If you have gout, do all you can to avoid foods high in purines. Here’s what to watch out for.
You may take medicine to control your symptoms and stop flare-ups if you have gout, a painful form of inflammatory arthritis. But you can also help yourself avoid gout symptoms by watching what you eat and drink.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases says that gout is caused by having too much uric acid in your blood. This can make your joints swell and hurt. When your body breaks down chemicals called purines, which are naturally found in many foods, uric acid is made.
As part of your treatment for gout, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) suggests cutting down on foods that are high in purines. Here are some foods and drinks you should avoid.
Is Smoked Salmon Bad For Gout? The Complete Lowdown
Gout is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in the body and causes inflammation. It often affects the big toe, but can impact other joints as well. Since certain foods can trigger painful gout attacks, those with gout need to pay close attention to what they eat. In particular, seafood intake requires caution. So an important question arises – is smoked salmon bad for gout? Let’s find out.
As a seafood lover with gout myself, I’ve done extensive research into how different types of fish and shellfish affect gout. Based on my personal experience and studies, here is a complete lowdown on smoked salmon and gout.
What is Gout?Before getting into whether smoked salmon is bad for gout, let’s first understand what gout is. Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by sudden and severe attacks of pain swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints often the joint at the base of the big toe. It occurs due to high levels of uric acid in the blood.
Uric acid is a waste product generated when the body breaks down purines. Purines are natural substances found in many foods particularly meats and seafood. Normally, uric acid gets dissolved in the blood and passes through the kidneys into the urine. But in people with gout uric acid accumulates and crystallizes in the joints, tendons and surrounding tissues, causing inflammation and excruciating pain.
What Foods Trigger Gout?
Certain foods are high in purines and can increase uric acid levels in the body, thereby triggering painful gout attacks. These include:
- Organ meats like liver, kidneys and sweetbreads
- Oily fish like sardines, anchovies and mackerel
- Shellfish like mussels, scallops, shrimp and crab
- Meat extracts like gravy and broth
- Alcohol, especially beer
- Sugary drinks and foods
- Refined carbs like white breads and pastries
- Some vegetables like asparagus, spinach, peas and mushrooms
For those prone to gout, it’s important to limit intake of high-purine foods. Alcohol and sugary foods also increase uric acid and should be avoided. Staying hydrated is crucial to help flush out excess uric acid from the system. Losing extra weight also takes pressure off the joints and lowers uric acid production.
Is Smoked Salmon High in Purines?
Now coming to the main question – is smoked salmon high in purines? Unfortunately, yes. Smoked salmon is rated as a high-purine food, with over 200mg of purines per 100g serving. This puts it firmly in the “avoid” category for gout patients.
Other fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, anchovies and herring are also very high in purines. On the other hand, fish like tuna, trout and salmon have moderate purine levels. Light tuna contains around 70mg of purines per 100g while pink salmon has close to 80mg.
So, is it safe to eat salmon if you have gout? Here’s a quick overview:
- Smoked salmon – High in purines, avoid
- Canned salmon – Moderate purines, limit to 1 small serving per day
- Cooked salmon – Moderate purines, can have occasionally
- Raw salmon – Lower in purines, safe in moderation
Benefits of Salmon for Gout
While smoked salmon is clearly off the menu, regular salmon may still hold some benefits for gout suffers when eaten in moderation. Here are some of its perks:
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Rich in Omega-3s – Salmon provides high levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA. Omega-3s can help reduce joint pain, swelling and stiffness in gout patients.
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Lean Protein Source – Salmon delivers top quality, easy-to-digest protein without much saturated fat. This makes it ideal for maintaining muscle and joint health in those with gout.
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May Lower Uric Acid – Early research indicates that eating salmon regularly may help reduce excess uric acid thanks to its omega-3 and protein content.
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Provides Vitamin D – Salmon is one of the few natural food sources of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked with higher gout risk.
However, it’s crucial to control portion sizes and avoid eating salmon daily. An ideal intake would be 3 ounces, once or twice a week along with other low-purine foods.
Tips to Enjoy Salmon with Gout
Here are some tips to enjoy salmon safely if you have gout:
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Choose wild salmon over farmed to maximize omega-3 content. Wild Alaskan salmon is a top choice.
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Bake, grill or poach salmon instead of frying to avoid adding unhealthy fats.
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Eat salmon with tart cherries, berries, tomatoes, bell peppers and other fruits and veggies high in antioxidants.
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Avoid creamy sauces and season with lemon, dill, garlic, onion, pepper and other anti-inflammatory herbs and spices instead.
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Pair salmon with starchy carbs like sweet potato, brown rice or quinoa to help lower uric acid.
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Stay hydrated and limit alcohol when eating purine-rich foods like salmon.
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Check with your doctor about taking a uric acid reducer like allopurinol if salmon seems to trigger gout attacks.
The bottom line is that while smoked salmon is too high in purines for gout patients, wild salmon in moderation may be beneficial. Focus on healthy cooking methods and pair it with the right foods and fluids to minimize the risk of gout flares. With some care, salmon can be part of an anti-inflammatory gout diet.
Other Low Purine Seafood Options for Gout
So smoked salmon and other high purine seafood are out. But what are the safer fish and shellfish choices if you have gout? Here are some low purine seafood options:
- Oysters
- Flounder
- Cod
- Sole
- Scallops
- Rainbow trout
- Tilapia
- Orange roughy
- Ocean perch
- Halibut
- Lobster
- Crab
- Shrimp
- Clams
- Catfish
- Mahi mahi
- Salmon (in moderation)
- Tuna (in moderation)
The key is enjoying a variety and avoiding any one type of seafood daily. Portion control is also important even when eating lower purine seafood. And shellfish, crustaceans and mollusks should be limited to once a week or so.
With some care, those with gout can still reap the many benefits of seafood while avoiding painful flares. Try some of the safer fish options above while steering clear of high purine seafood like smoked salmon if you have gout.
Gout Treatment and Diet
Avoiding purine-rich foods is only part of your gout treatment. The ACR also recommends losing weight to help your gout symptoms. Slow and steady weight loss is best. If you lose weight too quickly, the amount of uric acid in your body may rise. The best diet is one that is made up of foods that are high in fiber and low in fat and sugar. Talk to your doctor about how to create a gout diet that’s right for you.
A Caution About Vegetables
Even though most vegetables are good for you, asparagus, spinach, cauliflower, and some mushrooms have been found to have a lot of purines. But a study in the December 2020 issue of Nutrients found that high-purine vegetables don’t make gout worse like high-purine animal-based foods do. Be careful with many dried beans, peas, and lentils because they contain a lot of purines. If you have gout, you may need to stay away from these foods.
Fructose is what gives some fruits (and vegetables) their natural sweetness. And high-fructose corn syrup is used to make thousands of products, from soft drinks to baked goods.
The body breaks down fructose into uric acid. According to the Arthritis Foundation, foods and drinks high in fructose can make gout symptoms worse. But not all sources of fructose are the same.
The ACR says you should limit high-fructose corn syrup. That means cutting out soda and checking the labels on processed food and drinks. Researchers have found that whole fruit is generally safe for people with gout. This may be because fruit has other nutrients that make uric acid less harmful.
The Truth About How Smoked Salmon Is Made
Can you eat smoked salmon if you have gout?
Smoked salmon is rated as a “high” purine food: it contains >200 mg uric acid per 3.5 oz (100 g) food serving. So smoked salmon should be excluded from your gout diet. But although foods with a high purine content should be avoided, foods with a moderate purine content may be consumed..well…in moderation!
Does lemon cause gout?
No, on the contrary, studies show that lemon helps neutralize uric acid in the body, thus helping to reduce levels. So lemons prevent gout. Also, grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, and strawberries are all great sources of vitamin C, which lowers your uric acid levels and helps prevent gout attacks.
Can salmon cause gout?
The first thing to consider, of course, is salmon’s purine content. Remember, gout is caused by higher than normal levels of serum uric acid out of which crystals of urate accumulate in the joints and surrounding tissue.
Can salmon cause high uric acid levels?
Portion Control: Pay attention to portion sizes. While salmon offers numerous health benefits, consuming large quantities can still contribute to elevated uric acid levels. Practice portion control to strike the right balance. Enjoy Gout-Friendly Recipes: Explore gout-friendly recipes that feature salmon as the star ingredient.