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Does a low uric acid diet bring relief from gout symptoms? This question is, like most health questions, answered with both a yes and a no.

However, it is worth noting that it is not a low uric acid diet that will make a difference, but a diet low in purine that can reduce Gout symptoms.

Gout can usually be identified by the sudden onset of swollen, red, painful joints, usually in the foot. This excruciating pain and swelling is due to hyperuricemia; a state developed when there is a high level of uric acid in the blood.

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 our urine.

Our bodies are designed to produce and process uric acid, 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.

Eliminating insufficient amounts of uric acid can often be linked to a person's genetic makeup and over production is normally linked to eating too many purine-rich foods in the diet.

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 are the cause of the pain and swelling.

It can take years for uric acid levels to build up and a lot of people never experience a gout attack. However, 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 your joints. This is why the initial attack usually comes on extremely suddenly.

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

Having high levels of uric acid can lead to other complications such as the development of kidney stones. Left untreated, kidney stones can cause a lot of damage to the kidneys, impairing their functions. Kidney stones can lead to severe cramping and pain, and sometimes vomiting.

If you think you have kidney stones, it is important to make an appointment with a doctor and get yourself checked out.

To stop further gout attacks and avoid the possibility of developing kidney stones, you need to reduce the amount of uric acid in your blood. To do this you either need to slow down production or increase expulsion.

Following a low purine diet is a great way to slow down production and helps to normalize uric acid levels in the body.

The key to a low uric acid / low purine diet is to avoid foods high in purine, such as red meat, organ meats, processed meats, yeast extracts, shellfish and gravies. Instead, swap these foods for low-purine foods such as: cereals, fruits, rice, tomatoes, corn and some types of green vegetables.

It can take a little time for your uric acid levels to drop, however, once they have been stabilized at a position where your kidneys can keep up with processing, you can start to reintroduce some higher purine foods, but only in moderation.

More information about low purine diets and naturally treating gout can be found in our free newsletter.

While following a low purine diet it is important to keep your body as hydrated as possible. Drinking lots of water helps to dilute uric acid and flush it through the kidneys.

So, a low uric acid diet can make the difference to someone with gout symptoms, and reduce the chance of future flare-ups.