Uric acid is a body waste product formed by the breakdown of purines that can be found in many foods.
Excessive intake of foods high in purines will obviously increase the levels of a person’s uric acid which can form crystals in the joints and can lead to gout.
Additionally, these crystals can lead to the formation of kidney stones.
So, how do we ensure we do not develop gout and kidney stones?
Here are some helpful tips that you can use to lower your uric acid:
1. At least limit your intake if you cannot avoid foods that are high in purines.
These foods include red meats, organ meats, seafood, and some vegetables such as asparagus and mushrooms.
Also, limit intake of grains such as rice, oatmeal, beans, legumes, whole wheat, and whole grain cereals.
Nuts and gravy can increase uric acid levels too.
2. Drink plenty of water.
Sufficient intake of water can definitely help in flushing out uric acid from the body through urine.
3. Limit alcohol intake and other alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can intervene with our body’s excretion process, therefore, it is important to at least limit alcohol intake if we cannot totally avoid it.
4. Maintain the recommended weight.
Through proper diet and regular exercise, we can prevent obesity which can contribute to the increase in uric acid levels.
5. Take medications if necessary.
In some cases, medication may be prescribed by your physician if the tips above are not enough to help lower your uric acid levels.
Final Thoughts:
A lot of factors can elevate uric acid levels and can cause medical conditions if not taken seriously.
More importantly, it is always recommended to talk to your doctor to help you out in modifying your diet and changing your lifestyle to ensure that it is safe for you.
Lastly, it will be beneficial in following the tips above to keep uric acid at normal levels than spend money on medications or worse on medical procedures.
