If you are one of those people who believe that a gout diet is all about avoiding various foods you are mistaken. Yes, you need to avoid certain foods, but not all of them, obviously.
The reason why some foods are good while others are bad is in purines. They are present in literally everything we eat and drink, but in different amounts. Purines are known as heterocyclic aromatic and they are water-soluble.
Our body converts a part of those purines into uric acid. Normally that acid is removed from the body. If there is too much of it, or our body is unable to remove it, it will form crystal deposits inside the joints. This is the beginning of gout.
When I take a look at the foods which must be avoided by us, I commonly see shellfish and gout connection. The real question is why shellfish should be avoided completely?
Health benefits of shellfish
There is no other way to say this. Shellfish is a stunning food with over 9 different benefits. For instance, they are rich in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These are fatty acids. They have a wonderful effect on human brain development. They also reduce body inflammation.
Shellfish is loaded with Vitamins B3, B6, B12, and A. One cup will provide 8% of vitamin A needs for men and 10% for women per day. The food is also rich in dietary proteins and good, healthy cholesterol.
Shellfish will protect your heart as well. The link is believed to be fatty acids and you may know that people who consume plenty of fish, including shellfish have a much lower risk of developing heart disease.
There are all kinds of additional health-related benefits humans can get from shellfish. They are also delicious for most of you and they come as elegant and interesting food to consume. And now we move to shellfish and gout.
Is shellfish bad for gout?
The connection between shellfish and gout is a bad one. This food is commonly found on lists of foods, gout sufferers must avoid at all costs. I agree with the claim and I must add that most of the seafood is bad for gout.
Shellfish is high in purines and we all know what that means. If you consume shellfish you will increase the purine intake and you will directly increase uric acid. You can expect only one thing after that. You can expect a new gout flare.
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I want to add that many types of fish should be avoided as well. Some examples include sardines, herring, mussels, haddock, trout, codfish, and mackerel. All of them contain the aforementioned compound gout sufferers need to avoid.
Despite the fact you can get other benefits, you still cannot consume shellfish. It is bad for you and in large amounts, you can develop a gout attack that will last for weeks.
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Yes, I know, only 1/3 of the purines we get from the food and drinks. Other 2/3s come from natural processes inside our body. But, that 1/3 is extremely important and you can manage it in order to manage gout successfully. I have been doing that for over 10 years and I must say, the results are amazing. Not linking shellfish and gout in my life is one of the things I do constantly.
The alternative to shellfish
Eating a small portion, a very small portion of shellfish won’t cause you a gout attack instantly. But, it will significantly increase the odds. If you pair it with other foods that contain high purine intake, you will get the side effect you are trying to avoid.
Luckily, there are some foods from the sea that are more sufficient for us. Those examples are shrimp, crab, and lobster. They are moderate with purines and this means you can consume them but in moderation – once a week.
Your diet should consist mostly of fruits and vegetables. Avoiding meat such as organ meat, turkey, and bacon is important. However, you can consume lamb, pork, and poultry.
Today you have learned all about links between shellfish and gout. A good thing for those who don’t like this food is that now they have another reason to avoid it completely.
Suggested articles:
– Seafood And Gout – Is Eating Seafood Bad For Gout?
– Fish And Gout – 15 Types Of Fish Explained
– Oysters And Gout – Are Oysters Bad For Gout?
– Fish Oil And Gout – Controversies & Solutions Explained
– Octopus And Gout – Is Octopus Bad For Gout?
– Shrimp and Gout – Can I Eat Shrimp With Gout?
– Cod Liver Oil And Gout – Does Cod Liver Oil Trigger Gout?
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