Can You Eat Tuna With Gout?

In this short article, we will provide an answer to the question “Can you eat tuna with gout?” and the information on gout in detail.

Yes! You can still consume tuna even if you have gout or hyperuricemia as long as you limit your intake, select varieties with reduced purine content, and cook it in ways that are safe for those with gout.

Some forms of seafood, such as anchovies, shellfish, sardines, and tuna, contain a higher concentration of purines than others. However, for people who suffer from gout, the potential positive effects of eating fish may exceed the potential negative effects. Fish can be consumed in moderation as part of a diet for gout.

Both Gout and Tuna

A gout is a form of arthritis that is characterized by sudden, severe pain in the joints. This discomfort is caused by the formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. It is one of the medical field’s first recognized conditions. When there is an excessive accumulation of uric acid in your system, it crystallizes, which results in painful inflammation.

Uric acid is produced by the body as a byproduct of the breakdown of purines, which are found in certain meals. Reduce the amount of high-purine foods, such as tuna, in your diet to lower your body’s production of uric acid and lower the likelihood that you will get gout or that it will return.

Purines and tuna both count.

Purine-rich seafood, such as lobster, shrimp, anchovies, sardines, mackerel, scallops, and mussels, should be limited or avoided entirely by people who suffer from gout. On the other hand, tuna has a purine level that is rather higher than average.

According to the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society, a study that was conducted in 2004 and published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” found that the chance of acquiring gout was increased by 7 percent in middle-aged males for every additional weekly serving of seafood that they consumed.

Servings Suggestions

The Scarsdale Medical Group suggests that people who want to avoid the symptoms of gout should consume no more than four to six ounces of meat, fish, or fowl each day. This recommendation includes tuna.

According to the “Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010” published by the USDA, the average American consumes approximately 3.5 ounces of seafood per week; however, the USDA recommends that this intake be increased. For an adult who consumes 2,000 calories per day, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan suggests consuming no more than six ounces of lean protein, which can include seafood, daily.

Dietary Advantages

In addition to having a low purine level, tuna is beneficial to your diet in other ways. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that is beneficial to your heart health due to their high concentration in this food.

The omega-3 fatty acids found in tuna have been linked to a potential reduction in the risk of diabetes, stroke, asthma, ulcerative colitis, cancer, and other disorders. This fish from cold water delivers a lean protein that is far lower in cholesterol and saturated fat than red meat, regardless of whether the flesh is canned or prepared from scratch.

Dietary Issues

Those who suffer from gout can get a variety of health benefits from tuna; however, several species have high concentrations of mercury and PCBs. Bluefin tuna and some other species are discouraged to be consumed by the Seafood Watch program run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium due to the presence of elevated mercury levels.

The two types of canned fish that are consumed the most frequently are the healthiest options: albacore and skipjack. However, there is a lot of salt in tuna that has been canned. Patients diagnosed with gout should choose lower-salt options whenever possible to maintain their overall health, although salt contains a relatively modest amount of purines.

Would it be unhealthy to consume tuna daily?

If you have gout, eating tuna daily can make your condition worse. For instance, tuna is high in purines, which has been linked to an increased risk of gout. Because tuna has high amounts of sodium and a mercury content that ranges from moderate to high, even persons who do not suffer from gout should limit their consumption. Anything done to excess is harmful to one’s health.

Is there evidence that tuna contains mercury?

There is some mercury in tuna, although the amount varies widely depending on the type of fish that is consumed. Bigeye tuna has the highest mercury content of all the different types of tuna, whereas canned and light tuna has the least amount of mercury content. In addition to bigeye, yellowfin, and skipjack tuna, albacore, skipjack, and other kinds of tuna are evaluated. These three varieties of tuna are situated halfway in the midway between bigeye tuna and canned tuna.