Why does seafood cause gout?

Have you ever enjoyed a delicious seafood meal, only to wake up with searing pain in your big toe the next day? If so, you may have experienced gout – a type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the blood. While genetics and other factors can contribute to gout, consuming certain types of foods – including seafood – can increase your risk for this painful condition.

What is Gout?

Before we dive into why seafood causes gout, let’s talk a little bit about what gout actually is. Essentially, gout occurs when there’s an excess buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints. Uric acid is a waste product that’s naturally produced by our bodies as it breaks down purines – chemicals found in many foods we eat. Normally, our kidneys filter out uric acid and excrete it through urine.

However, if there’s too much uric acid or if the body isn’t able to get rid of it quickly enough (thanks again for nothing kidneys), these crystals can accumulate within joints like your toes or fingers. This leads to inflammation and intense pain (and did I mention some pretty gnarly swelling as well?)

GOUT IS BASICALLY THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE WITH YOUR CLOTHES ON!

Why Does Seafood Cause Gout?

So where does seafood come into play here? Some types of seafood are high in purines which means they break down into more uric acid than other proteins do. Here are some specific examples:

Types Of High-purine Seafood:

  • Anchovies
  • Mackerel
  • Sardines
  • Herring
  • Scallops

You might be thinking “Wait what?! Not scallops!!” Unfortunately yes dear reader even those tasty bivalves are on the list. #TheMoreYouKnow

Now, before you swear off all seafood for life (or worse, start protesting outside your local fish market), it’s important to note that not all types of seafood are high in purines. In fact some actually have low levels of the offending chemicals:

Types Of Low-purine Seafood:

  • Lobster
  • Crab
  • Shrimp
  • Oysters

So if you’re a gout sufferer who just cant bear the thought of never eating seafood again stick with these safer bets.

But why does this happen? When we consume foods high in purines – like those listed above – our bodies break them down and uric acid is created as a by-product. While most people can handle moderate levels of uric acid without issue, someone with gout may struggle to process it efficiently which can lead to more crystals building up in their joints.

Other Foods That Can Cause Gout

While seafood is certainly one culprit when it comes to gout flare-ups, there are plenty of other foods and beverages that can cause problems for folks dealing with this condition:

High-Purine Meats:

If you’re big on eating meat (Who doesn’t love us some beef jerky?! ) you might want to watch out for these meats sometimes they fall under the radar because ya know steak deliciousness :

  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Lamb
  • Organ meats such as liver or kidneys (sorry pate lovers)

Alcohol:

Need an excuse not go hard at happy hour anymore? Here ya go! Drinking too much alcohol (especially beer) can increase your chances of getting gout and also ultimately regretting late night texts..

Managing Your Diet With Gout

If you’ve been diagnosed with gout or experience frequent flare-ups after consuming certain types of food , working with a registered nutritionist dietitian can be helpful so they will help moderate intake while still maintaining a healthy diet.

A good place to start in general is determining your overall consumption of high-purine foods and one should reduce the amount slowly rather than eliminate it completely. That way, you can still enjoy some favorites occasionally without risking a flare-up.

Other dietary recommendations may include increasing your water intake (stay hydrated people! ), limiting alcohol, avoiding sugary beverages just dont do it for all that is holy) , and incorporating more low-fat dairy products into your meals.

Conclusion

While seafood can certainly be delicious – especially enjoyed by poking fun at tourists while cracking open crabs on the beach – if you suffer from gout then consuming certain types of fish could cause real pain literally. But with moderation and guidance from medical professionals or nutrition experts who specialize in working with gout sufferers you dont have to say goodbye forever to those fancy sushi dinners or enjoying yourself done right as crawfish boil let’s be honest no Texan wants to turn their nose up at something boiled even after finding out about the risks of gout..

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