How to Control Uric Acid in your Body?
A higher uric acid level in the body is called hyperuricemia, and a blood test is conducted for confirmation. It’s a potentially harmful condition and a significant cause of gout and kidney stones. A high uric acid level occurs when your kidneys don’t eliminate uric acid efficiently. Things that may cause this slow-down in the removal of uric acid include purine-rich foods, being overweight, having diabetes, taking certain diuretics, and drinking too much alcohol. You can control uric acid levels in your body by incorporating some dietary and lifestyle changes and using uric acid-reducing medicines prescribed by your healthcare provider. Let’s have a look at them one by one.
10 proven ways to control uric acid in your body
Avoid meats high in purine
Purine is a substance present in various foods. Our body breaks it down into uric acid. It means the more we eat purine-rich foods, the more concentration of uric acid in our body. The uric acid level in the blood above 6.8 mg/deal leads to an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints, tissues, and kidneys. Hence causes complications like gout, kidney stones, and kidney infection. So the first and the most crucial step is to limit or avoid the use of purine-rich meats in our diet to control uric acid in the body.
Look at the purine-rich meats that must be avoided to control uric acid.
- Red meat includes lamb, pork, and beef.
- Organ foods like heart, kidney, and liver.
- Sea foods like anchovies, sardines, tuna, and shellfish.
Avoid or limit the consumption of alcoholic beverages
Being higher in purine levels and other by-products, consuming alcohol is the second leading cause of hyperuricemia. Out of all alcoholic drinks, beer is the worst culprit. Seek doctor consultation if you are alcohol dependent and are suffering from hyperuricemia.
Avoid sugary foods and drinks.
Sugary foods and drinks are rich in fructose, which breaks down purines that are the precursor of uric acid. In addition, all artificial juices, soft drinks, candies, and baked foods contain fructose syrup, making them sweet. So avoid all these drinks and foods to control uric acid levels in your body. Natural fruit juices like orange and apple juice are also high in fructose levels, so avoid them when you have a session of gout or have stones in your kidneys. Instead, drink carrot, beet-root, and cucumber juices.
Maximize water intake to flush out uric acid from your body
Drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of uric acid crystals deposition in the body. Water intake may vary depending on activity levels, and most doctors recommend 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. Stay hydrated and stay healthy!
Use vitamin C supplements.
In moderation, vitamin C helps eliminate uric acid from the body. However, higher doses of vitamin C can lead to kidney stone formation. So always consult your doctor before using vitamin C supplements.Â
Drink coffee in moderation
Talk to your doctor about how much coffee you can safely drink. Because moderate drinking amounts of coffee can help reduce uric acid levels in your body and prevent gout. But if you already have gout, drinking caffeine can make it poorer.Â
Snack on cherries
Cherries can help lower uric acid levels in your bloodstream, so snack on a handful or drink a glass of cherry juice daily to control your uric acid levels.
Follow a healthy diet plan.
By following a healthy diet plan, you can obtain all the required nutrients and control the uric acid level in the body. A healthy diet plan includes,Â
- A healthy source of carbs like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
- A protein source must be lean, like beans, chicken breast, and low-fat dairy products.
- A fat source that is rich in unsaturated fats like nuts and eggs.
Maintain a healthy weight
A fatty body makes it challenging for your body to control uric acid levels. That is why maintaining a healthy weight is an essential step to reducing uric acid levels. To maintain a healthy weight,
- Reduce your calorie intake
- Divide your food into reasonable portion
- Stop skipping meals
- Take optimal sleep
- Do more exercises
Talk to your doctor about medical treatment
If dietary changes are not enough to normalize the uric acid levels in the blood or you develop signs of gout or kidney stones, ask your doctor for medication.
- Your doctor will conduct blood, urine, and joint fluid test to evaluate uric acid levels.
- To remove the build-up of uric acid from your body, the doctor may prescribe you medicines called uricosurics.
- If you have gout or kidney stones, your doctor may prescribe a medication called xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI) that limits the ability of your body to produce uric acid.
- A pegloticase treatment is suggested to patients when other medications cannot treat gout. In this treatment, medicine is given as an IV drip that converts the uric acid in your blood into a substance called allantoin, and your body can get rid of that substance through the kidneys.
Takeaway:
Certain medications increase the level of uric acid in the body and their side effects, such as aspirin, diuretic, and chemotherapy drugs. Some underlying medical conditions can also lead to increased uric acids levels, like kidney disease, diabetes, and obesity. Talk to your doctor about them.
The howtothing.net article on How to reduce uric acid with diet provides similar information related to food that can help control uric acid levels in the body.
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this blog post is not aimed at substituting for professional medical advice or treatment. It’s always appreciated to contact your healthcare provider before starting, shifting, or halting any health treatment.