How can you prevent gout

Not medical advice:A gout diet helps to control the elimination and production of uric acid, which may help prevent gout attacks or reduce their severity.

Gout, a sore form of arthritis, has long been associated with diet, particularly overindulgence in seafood, meat and alcohol. As a result, gout medication used to include severe dietary restrictions, which made the gout diet hard to stick to.

A gout diet lessens your intake of foods that are high in purines, such as animal products, which helps control your body's production of uric acid. The diet also restricts alcohol, particularly beer, which has been linked to gout attacks. If you're obese or overweight, lose weight, but avoid rapid weight loss and fasting because these can promote a gout attack.

Drink ample amounts of fluids to help flush uric acid from your body. Also stay away from high-protein weight-loss diets, which can trigger you to produce too much uric acid (hyperuricemia).

A sample menu:

• Breakfast: Whole-grain, unsweetened cereal with low-fat or skim milk, topped with fresh fruit; Whole-wheat toast with trans-free margarine; 100 percent fruit juice.

• Lunch: Lean meat, fish or poultry (2 to 3 ounces) sandwich on whole-wheat bread, with lettuce, tomato and low-fat spread; Carrot and celery sticks, side salad or vegetable soup; Fresh fruit, such as apple, orange or pear; Skim or low-fat milk.

• Dinner: Baked or roasted chicken (2 to 3 ounces); Steamed vegetables; Baked potato with low-fat sour cream; Green salad with tomatoes and low-fat dressing; Fresh fruit, such as berries or melon; Nonalcoholic beverage, such as water or tea.

Just in! A gene leading to early gout and kidney failure has been discovered. Around a year ago, researchers at Wake Forest University discovered a gene mutation that is linked to familial gout and kidney failure. Find out more here.