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8 ideal drink options for people with gout
Here are 8 ideal drink options for people with gout, which include drinking more water, coffee, low-fat milk, wine, and green tea.
Gout is a condition that is associated with high levels of uric acid in the blood, which forms crystals that accumulate around the joints, leading to sudden and severe pain and swelling. People with gout have a high risk of kidney stones.
Drinks or foods high in purines can increase the risk of gout since these substances break down to uric acid during digestion.
Some ideal drink options for people with gout include:
- Water: Drinking eight glasses of water a day is essential for people with gout since more water is needed to reduce swelling associated with the condition. Water lubricates the joints, preventing further symptoms, and flushes out uric acid from the body, preventing their crystal formation.
- Clear fluids: Broth or herbal teas (chamomile, lavender, green, and hibiscus purchased from trusted sources) are another way to increase fluid consumption in your diet. Thus, increasing fluid consumption is essential to counterattack gout symptoms.
- Coffee: Coffee may reduce uric acid in the body. Hence, people with gout should drink coffee with low-fat or skimmed milk and without sugar to prevent attacks. Drinking one to two cups of coffee should do the trick.
- Lemon water: A study has reported that lemon water or drinks high in vitamin C helps neutralize uric acid in the body. Squeezing two fresh lemons into two liters of water can help reduce uric acid levels in the body. Even orange juice can do wonders, but always have them in moderation.
- Fresh cherry juice: Fresh cherry juice has antioxidants called anthocyanins that are anti-inflammatory and reduce inflammation associated with gout. A study has reported that drinking cherry juice for two days results in a significant reduction in gout symptoms.
- Low-fat milk or skimmed milk: Drinking a glass of skimmed milk may reduce the amount of uric acid in the body. Hence, including skimmed milk or low-fat yogurt can lower the risk of gout attacks.
- Wine: In general, alcohol can exacerbate the symptoms of arthritis. Hence, a physician might ask you to moderate your alcohol consumption. However, if you still wish to drink alcohol, drinking wine seems to be the least offensive. Other types of alcohol are high in purines, thereby worsening gout symptoms.
- Green tea: Studies report that green tea moderately lowers uric acid levels in the blood. Its antioxidant properties may help fight inflammation associated with gout. However, more evidence is required to prove these claims. Drinking a glass of green tea may be beneficial overall.
What should be the meal plan for a person with gout?
Here’s a typical diet plan for a person with gout:
- Breakfast:
- Whole-grain, unsweetened cereal with skim or low-fat milk
- One cup fresh strawberry
- Coffee
- Water
- Lunch:
- Roasted chicken breast slices (two ounces) on a whole-grain roll with mustard
- Mixed green salad with vegetables, one tablespoon nuts, and balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing
- Skim or low-fat milk or water
- Afternoon snack:
- One cup fresh cherry
- Water
- Dinner:
