Low purine diet: Tips and foods to avoid Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Foods to eat and avoid on a low purine dietMedically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, Nutrition — By Scott Harris — Updated on April 19, 2022A low purine diet will typically center around fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The diet will minimize the consumption of red meat, seafood, and alcohol. Healthcare professionals often recommend a low purine diet for people who have gout, kidney stones, or a similar condition. While a low purine diet helps ease symptoms of certain conditions, it can also improve general health and well-being. In this article, learn which foods a person on a low purine diet should eat and which they should avoid. What is a low purine diet Share on PinterestGabi Bucataru/StocksyPurines are compounds that the body produces naturally. This natural production accounts for the majority of purines in a person’s system. However, many foods and drinks can contain small amounts of purines. Eating a high purine diet can increase the risk of hyperuricemia, while a low purine diet helps minimize the number of purines in the body and reduce the amount of uric acid in the blood. Hyperuricemia The body can break down purine compounds into uric acid. This is a waste substance that typically dissolves harmlessly in the blood before the kidneys filter it and remove it from the body. When uric acid levels exceed the amount that the body can process, the acid can form crystals in the blood. The medical term for this is hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia can result from an overproduction of uric acid, a drop in its excretion, or both. The condition can lead to gout, kidney stones, and other issues. Medications, such as niacin and pyrazinamide, and several conditions can impair the body’s ability to excrete uric acid, including:acute or chronic kidney diseaseacidosis — lactic acidosis, ketoacidosishypovolemiasarcoidosishyperparathyroidismhypothyroidismBartter syndrome Foods to eat People on a low purine diet can still enjoy plenty of foods and beverages. Foods and beverages low in purines include:low fat dairy productswhole grainsvegetablesnon-soy legumesfruits and fruit juiceseggswatercoffeetea Foods to avoid Many types of meat and fish are high in purines. A person following a low purine diet should limit or exclude the following from their diet.game meats such as veal, venison, and duckred meatseafood including tuna, sardines, anchovies, and herringorgan meat, such as kidneys and liverbeerwhiskey Other foods and beverages can change how the body retains or eliminates uric acid. While some forms of alcohol are lower in purines than others, research shows that all alcohol consumption can raise uric acid levels. In addition, consuming high levels of fructose may also increase uric acid production. Concentrated fructose syrup is an ingredient in many sweetened juices and sodas. If this production outpaces excretion, it may put a person at risk of gout. Discover eight ways to naturally lower uric acid levels here. Who can benefit from a low purine diet Uric acid crystals can form kidney stones or cause gout if they build up in the joints and tendons. A low purine diet can lower the levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. This can help reduce the risk of developing hyperuricemia and its associated conditions. Short-term exposure to purine-rich foods can cause gout flares. Managing or eliminating purine intake can help reduce these flares and manage gout symptoms. Learn more about what to eat to manage gout here. Other tips Research suggests that meat and fish products increase uric acid levels and can worsen gout symptoms at a greater rate than plant-based counterparts. A diet focusing on vegetable proteins may help people reach nutrient goals while minimizing uric acid increases. While a low purine diet can help prevent kidney stones or gout flare-ups, the diet is not a cure for either condition. A person should discuss further treatment options with a doctor. Medication can also help to lower chronically high uric acid levels. Two common drugs that doctors prescribe are probenecid and allopurinol. These medications can regulate uric acid levels in the long term. A low purine diet cannot ease a gout flare-up while it is happening, but over-the-counter medications, such as naproxen (Aleve), can help. Prescription-strength treatments are also available. There is also scientific evidence that the Mediterranean diet may lower uric acid levels. The Mediterranean diet involves eating mainly fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Summary A low purine diet can reduce uric acid levels. These changes can prevent kidney stones and flare-ups of gout. A person should always speak with a doctor before embarking on a new diet, especially one that aims to address a health issue. The doctor can provide tips and may recommend additional medical treatments to reduce symptoms. Last medically reviewed on April 19, 2022GoutNutrition / DietUrology / Nephrology 10 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Aihemaitijiang, S., et al. (2020). The association between purine-rich food intake and hyperuricemia: A cross-sectional study in adult Chinese residents.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7765492Caliceti, C., et al. (2017). Fructose intake, serum uric acid, and cardiometabolic disorders: A critical review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409734Jakše, B., et al. (2019). Uric acid and plant-based nutrition.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6722549/Low-purine diet for gout: What to eat, sample menu, and more. (n.d.).https://creakyjoints.org/about-arthritis/gout/gout-diet/low-purine-diet-goutNierado-Iwanicka, B., et al. (2021). The role of alcohol consumption in pathogenesis of gout [Abstract].https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2021.1911928Stamostergiou, J. et al. (2018). The role of the Mediterranean diet in hyperuricemia and gout.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7045958/Vedder, D., et al. (2019). Dietary interventions for gout and effect on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6950134Which foods are safe for gout? (n.d.).https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/nutrition/healthy-eating/which-foods-are-safe-for-goutWu, B., et al. (2019). Availability and quality of published data on the purine content of foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements.https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUSERFILES/80400535/DATA/PUBLICATIONS/FNR/Availabilityandqualityofpublisheddataonthepurinecontentoffoods,alcoholicbeverages,anddietarysupplements.pdfYokose, C., et al. (2021). The role of diet in hyperuricemia and gout.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7886025FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, Nutrition — By Scott Harris — Updated on April 19, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? 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