Rice is not bad for gout, it is one of the recommended food for gout. Rice is a low uric acid food, which will help reduce the level of purine intake in the body and possibly prevent gout upset or flares.
Gout is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis. It affects one or more joints but typically occurs in the feet and is very painful. Its traditional treatments are anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers.
While medications are critical factors in managing and treating gout, being mindful of what you eat and avoiding food with a high purine level is also an excellent way to fight gout.
Following a low purine diet can help stabilize the uric acid level in the blood, reducing the risk of a gout attack.
In this article, I will discuss extensively gout, how rice affects gout, how to prevent gout, foods to avoid, what causes gout, and what food to eat to prevent gout attacks and flares.
What is Gout?
Gout is inflammatory arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the blood. When the uric acid level builds up, it can cause uric acid crystals to form.
The formation of this uric acid crystal causes the joints to swell, irritate and causes inflammation which tends to be very painful. This pain is known as a gout attack.
There are several reasons the blood can contain a high uric acid level. It occurs when there is an overproduction of a compound known as Purine.
Other times it is a result of the kidney’s inability to clear the uric acid from the body.
What are Purines?
Purine is a chemical compound broken down into uric acid when metabolism occurs. Purine is either made by the body or taken into your body from the food you eat.
In standard cases, the Purine content breaks into uric acid, which later dissolves in the blood. Then it passes through the kidney, which is later eliminated from the body through urine.
How Does Uric Acid Cause Gout?
Complications occur when the kidney doesn’t get rid of the uric acid fast enough or there is an excess amount of uric acid in the blood. This excess uric acid, in time, leads to what is known as “hyperuricemia.”
Although hyperuricemia is not a disease, it can be dangerous as it can result in the formation of uric acid crystals, which are built up around the joints and cause a gout attack.
How Does Rice Affect Gout?
Rice has a low amount of Purine content and is also rich in starchy carbohydrates, which can help reduce gout flares.
Rice is an excellent food to include in your diet, and white rice has the lowest purine level among all rice varieties. Brown rice is also a healthy choice as it is one of the healthiest kinds of rice.
White rice is a low-purine food, and the purine content produces less than 100 mg of uric acid in a 100-gram serving.
For brown rice, the purine content produces between 100 – 200 mg of uric acid in a 100-gram serving.
However, the health benefits of brown rice outweigh its potential purine risk. Moderate consumption of 100 grams daily can limit the risk of eating brown rice.
SEE: If Eating Rice Every Day Will Cause Weight Loss
Which Food Should be Avoided for Gout?
A gout-friendly diet will help you control the uric acid level in your blood and promote your overall health.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, the following food and beverages are not good for a gout-friendly diet.
- Seafood
- Red meat
- Sugary beverages
- Alcohol
- Bacon
- Turkey
- Venison
- Mackerel
- Yeast
- Fruit juice
- Soda
All these food and beverages have high amounts of purine content, you should reduce your intake or avoid them in general.
SEE: If Fried Chicken is Bad For Gout
Which Food is Recommended for a Gout-friendly Diet?
The following food and beverages have low purine content. They can help lower your uric acid level and the risk of a gout attack.
- Whole grain rice
- Legumes
- Fluids (especially water)
- Quinoa
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Sweet potatoes.
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How Can You Prevent Gout?
While following your gout-friendly diet, your lifestyle plays another role. Here are some healthy tips to help fight against goat and goat attacks.
1. Achieve a Healthy Weight
One of the first considerations for preventing gout from acting up is to watch your weight.
Weight gain is associated with insulin resistance, and insulin resistance has been shown to reduce the amount of uric acid cleared by the body.
Keeping fit would automatically aid your body in clearing up uric acid faster.
SEE: If Green Tea is Good for Weight Loss
2. Reduce Alcohol Intake
Taking in an excess amount of alcohol is harmful as it can trigger a gout attack, especially beer, which contains high purines.
If you choose to drink, take more water or wine. Drinking wine in moderation has no associated risk.
3. Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks
Overindulging in sugar-filled snacks or drinks can lead to weight gain or obesity. Also, soda drinks and sugary snacks often contain fructose.
A high intake of this fructose can increase the uric acid level of your body.
FAQs
Is brown rice good for gout?
Yes, brown rice is good for gout. It has a high amount of starchy carbohydrates, which makes it ideal.
Which rice is best for a gout patient?
White rice is one of the best for gout patients and has the lowest amount of purines.
How can you reduce your gout flares?
The most effective ways of reducing gout flares are exercising and managing your diet.
SEE: Is Spinach Bad For Gout Or Not?
Conclusion: Is rice bad for gout?
A large part of the success of preventing gout depends on what you eat and your lifestyle habit.
Reducing the amount of Purine is paramount to your gout diet. Rice is one of the best choices to aid this course since they are low in purine content.
Be sure to know which nutrition is best for you before starting your gout diet.
I hope you enjoyed this article, you should also find out how many calories are in a plate of rice.
Thank you for reading.
