The question whether a low uric acid diet can bring relief from gout symptoms can be answered with both a yes and a no, like most health questions.

A low uric acid diet is not what will make a difference but a diet low in purine that can reduce gout symptoms.

A bout with gout can usually be identified by the sudden onset of swollen, red, painful joints, usually in the foot. A high level of uric acid in the blood due to hyperurcemia is what causes the excruciating pain and swelling.

Uric acid is the by-product the body produces when metabolizing purine – a compound that is found in a lot of protein based foods. It is dissolved in the blood stream and excreted via the kidneys in the urine.

Human bodies are designed to produce and process uric acid and the problems arise when there is either over-production in the body, or the body is unable to eliminate uric acid at an appropriate rate.

A person’s genetic make-up is linked to his capacity to eliminate insufficient amount of uric acid.  Over production of uric acid is linked to eating too much of purine-rich foods.

Uric acid floats around in the blood and when levels rise too far, crystals are deposited in the joints and soft tissues that connect joints. These sharp, jagged crystals cause the pain and swelling.

Many people never experience a gout attack for it can take years for uric acid levels to build up. When the tipping point is reached and the uric acid levels are too high to be carried by the blood, deposits are made and the uric acid crystallizes in the joints. This is the reason why the initial attack usually comes suddenly.

Once the initial gout attack is over, further episodes are normally experienced later as the uric acid level remains high.

High levels of uric acid can lead to other complications such as the development of kidney stones and when left untreated can damage the kidneys, impairing their functions. Kidney stones can lead to severe cramps and pain, and sometimes vomiting.

To check gout attacks and avoid the possibility of developing kidney stones, a sufferer needs to reduce the amount of uric acid in his blood by slowing its production or increase its expulsion from the body. A low purine diet helps normalize uric acid level. Avoid foods high in purine like red meat, organ meats, processed meats, yeast extracts, shellfish and gravies.  Low-purine foods include cereals, fruits, rice, tomatoes, corn and some green leafy vegetables.