Game meats, also known as bush meat, is one of the favourite animal protein that we love to eat with our swallow foods.
Same goes for organ meats, a.k.a orisirisi, which we relish in egusi, vegetables, stews and peppersoup.
Yet, doctors are warning that these foods are some of the top 10 foods that trigger uric acid accumulation in the body.
According to General Practitioner, Dr. Olusewa Jacobs, uric acid is a normal body waste product that forms when chemicals called purines break down.
“Purines are a natural substance found in the body. They are also found in many foods, such as liver, shellfish, and alcohol.
“Most uric acid dissolves in your blood, passes through your kidneys and leaves your body in your pee (urine).
“However, hyperuricemia can happens if too much uric acid stays in your body.
“Hyperuricemia causes uric acid to clump together in sharp crystals. These crystals can settle in your joints and cause gout, a painful form of arthritis. They can also build up in your kidneys and form kidney stones,” Dr. Jacobs says.
Though the condition is very treatable, Jacobs warns that it is more common than we know.
According to her, you might need to change some aspects of your daily routine (like tweaking your diet or drinking more water).
She also suggests that a healthcare provider might prescribe you medicine to lower your uric acid levels or treat any symptoms you’re experiencing
Top 10 foods and drinks that trigger gout
- Sugary drinks and sweets
- High fructose corn syrup
- Alcohol
- Organ meats [orisirisi]
- Game meats [bush meat]
- Certain seafood, including herring, scallops, mussels, codfish, tuna, trout and haddock
- Red meats, including beef, lamb pork and bacon
- Turkey
Eat your way out!
Drinking plenty of fluids helps your kidneys flush out uric acid faster. The kidneys filter out about 70% of the uric acid in your body.
Drinking enough water can help support your kidneys and may reduce your risk of uric acid kidney stones.
Keep a water bottle with you at all times. Set an alarm every hour to remind you to take a few sips.
Drink coffee
Research from 2016 shows that coffee may help reduce serum uric acid levels in two main ways:
It competes with the enzyme that breaks down purines in the body, lowering the uric acid production rate.
It increases the rate at which your body excretes uric acid.
Other research from 2016 suggests there’s enough evidence in support of caffeine’s ability to lower uric acid levels. A 2021 study also found frequent coffee intake was not significantly associated with hyperuricemia risk.
Researchers note that further studies are needed to clarify whether coffee may affect uric acid levels.
See these images for foods that prevent gout!
