Is it bad to eat oatmeal if you have gout?

Gout is a common ailment in our society whose prevalence is exacerbated by our lack of knowledge about food types and what they contain.

Recently, while researching on gout to get more information for a friend, I came upon this article on Yahoo!

A reader asked: Is it bad to eat oatmeal if you have gout? She continued:

i have gout and cant walk for a while,and friends told me that i should oatmeal and avoid food with high purines.and even though i 'only' eat oatmeal,it took me 2 months to walk again.pls help.thanks.

The best answer chosen by voters (I would choose it too) is the one below, and I quote:

Your friends don't know what gout is.

Diets which are high in purines and high in protein have long been suspected of causing an increased risk of gout (a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the body which form crystals in the joints, resulting in pain and inflammation).

Having a well planned gout diet is important if you are suffering from gout. Gout is a form of rheumatic arthritis that results from the accumulation of excess uric acid in your joints. The big toe is often the first target of gout, but it can easily spread to the small joints in your toes, instep, and fingers, and the ankles, knees, elbows and wrists. You suffer sudden, excruciating pain from acute attacks of gout; the joint will swell, redden, and feel rather warm.

There are hereditary influences in development of gout, but there are things you can do to minimise the frequency of attacks. Physical exercise and reduced alcohol consumption will do a lot towards preventing gout, and so will a good healthy diet.

High uric acid levels associated with gout derive largely from foods rich in protein and purine, which produce uric acid as a waste product when broken down. Reducing such foods will mean less material for uric acid formation. You should adjust your dietary patterns to achieve the following:

1. Less consumption of meat products that have high purine content, such as beef, pork and lamb, as do organs like liver, kidney, and brain, along with gravy enriched with meat extracts.

2. Reduction (if not total elimination) of alcoholic beverages, especially beer.

3. Reduction of mushrooms, legume foods like peas, beans and lentil, and vegetables such as cauliflower, spinach and asparagus.

4. Avoidance of seafood that contribute to high uric acid levels like cod, anchovies, herrings and sardines, haddock, and fish eggs; also minimised consumption of mussels and scallops.

If possible, target to have protein comprising less than half of your diet to achieve more balance. Protein is a necessary element in your body, but taking more than what’s necessary will upset your body’s nutrient balance.

There are beneficial foods that help you lessen the discomfort and pain of an acute gout attack. Increase your consumption of fresh vegetables, either raw or lightly steamed; you can also mix them in soups or make them into juice. However, limit potatoes and corn to only once or twice a week.

Half a kilo (one pound) of wild or black cherries, eaten as fresh fruit or drunk as juice, will help you get over a gout attack. The cherries contain anthocyanocids that dramatically reduces uric acid. Do not use commercially prepared juices as they no longer have anthocyanocids.

While genetics can sometimes predispose your body towards developing gout, you can play an important part in reducing the chances of getting it by making appropriate lifestyle adjustments.
Gout Treatment

For a permanent cure, one product that is highly recommended by hundreds of health practitioners and clinics is Uricinex. Marketed by MicroNutra.com, Uricinex is an all natural supplement that stops gout pain within 72 hours for 94% of gout sufferers in clinical tests.

For more comprehensive Gout information and Gout recipes, read http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifCure Gout Now - an easy to follow, comprehensively researched eBook by Lisa McDowell that shows you how to change your diet and gain control of your gout wth useful strategies that have been proven to improve health for people with gout.

You need to eat a BALANCED diet, not 'just oatmeal'!

Here is the source.