How to Control Uric Acid Without Medicine

Cutting out Foods High in Uric Acid

Decrease the amounts of organ meat and red meat in your diet. Meat from animal organs and red meats are high in purine levels. When your body breaks these meats down, it will release high levels of uric acid into your bloodstream. So, reduce your consumption of organ meats like liver, sweetbreads, and kidneys. Also decrease your consumption of red meats, including pork, lamb, and beef. Instead, try eating healthy, low-purine white meats like chicken or fish.

Cut high-purine seafood out of your diet. Some seafood items are high in purines and should be removed from your diet, or at least eaten with extreme moderation. This includes items like anchovies, sardines, lobster, crab, and tuna. Either remove these from your diet altogether or eat them infrequently. Be sure to cut high-purine shellfish out of your diet altogether if you're having a gout flare-up. Instead, you can eat moderate portions of low-purine seafood. Low-purine seafood include things like: salmon, cod, haddock, and smoked eel.

Avoid sugar-rich foods and drinks. When your body breaks down foods that are high in fructose, it produces purines, which in turn cause an increase in uric acid. This applies both to processed foods that have had sugar added and to foods that contain sugars naturally. So, cut these types of foods out of your diet, or at least eat them extremely infrequently. Foods and beverages that are high in sugar include: Soft drinks, sugary fruit juices, cake, cookies, donuts, candies, and sweet cereals.

Eating Healthy, Low-Purine Foods

Add antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies to your diet. Antioxidant-rich foods can help you decrease and control the levels of uric acid in your bloodstream. Some antioxidant-rich vegetables are also slightly alkaline and can help break down uric acid in your body. Fruits and vegetables that have high levels of antioxidants include: Cherries, strawberries, and blueberries. Tomatoes and bell peppers.

Eat whole grains and other high-fiber foods. High-fiber foods can help control the levels of uric acid in your body by absorbing some of the acid from your bloodstream. The fiber in these foods will also help you go to the bathroom frequently. This will increase the rate at which you eliminate uric acid from your body. Foods that have high levels of fiber include: Grains like whole wheat and oatmeal. Lentils, split peas, and lima beans. Broccoli, artichokes, and Brussels sprouts.

Increase the amount of vitamin C you eat. Vitamin C can lower the levels of uric acid in your body and can help to improve your body's overall health. Food rich in vitamin C include oranges and other citrus fruits, strawberries, papayas, kiwis, bell peppers, all types of melons, and guava. If you'd rather not increase the amount of vitamin C in your daily diet, you can purchase over the counter vitamin capsules that contain 500 mg of vitamin C. If you already have gout or have very high levels of uric acid, talk to your doctor about a prescription-strength vitamin C pill.

Making Lifestyle Adjustments to Lower Uric Acid

Lose weight to reduce your risk of high uric acid. Adults who are overweight or obese are at risk of having high levels of uric acid. Overweight bodies generate larger amounts of uric acid than the bodies of adults who are at a healthy weight. The kidneys of overweight and obese adults are also less efficient at removing excess uric acid than the kidneys of non-obese adults. Ask your doctor about a healthy weight-loss diet if you're concerned that you are overweight or that you may be obese.

Drink at least 2 litres (0.53 US gal) of water a day. One of the best ways to reduce the amount of uric acid in your bloodstream is to stay hydrated. Consume water throughout the day, especially around mealtimes. If you would prefer to hydrate with other beverages in addition to water, focus on drinking low-calorie, sugar-free liquids. These include beverages like fruit juices, as well as black, green, or herbal tea.

Drink beer and spirits only in moderation to manage uric acid. If you're worried about high levels of uric acid, be sure not to abuse alcohol. Drinking beer or spirits at an excessive level will increase your risk of contracting gout by increasing your levels of uric acid. Wine consumption doesn't have much of an effect on uric acid. Adult men should consume no more than 2 drinks a day. Adult women should consume no more than 1 drink a day.