If you or someone you know is suffering from gout, you know how painful this can be. Finding ways to not only alleviate the pain and methods to control the onset of future bouts of gout can be a difficult task. It has been proven time and again that a person can control gout with diet. There are certain foods that will increase the chances of having an onset of painful gout, knowing what to eat and what to avoid can prove to be beneficial.

It is important that you have as much information as you can find about gout and put this information to good use. It is typical for a person that is suffering from an attack of gout to experience severe pain, burning sensation, swelling, redness and difficulties with movement in the joints. To minimize the discomforts of gout through diet, here are some tips for modifying your diet.

1. Foods with purines must be modified from the diet of a person that has been diagnosed with gout. Foods that are high in their content of purines have been linked directly to gout. Some of the foods that should be taken out of the diet are kidneys, tongue, red meats, tripe and liver. However, you should not completely take these protein rich foods out of your diet.

2. Fish is another food that should be excused from the diet of a gout sufferer. This includes scallops, roe and shellfish. These also have been linked to instigating a painful episode with gout.

3. There are also some vegetables that you should avoid. Among them are peas, lentils, beans, spinach, mushrooms and asparagus. These are all dangerously high in purines.

4. Alcoholic beverages will also need to become a thing in your past. However, if you are not having many episodes with gout you can limit your consumption of alcohol For men, it is possible you can continue drinking, but no more than two beverages per day. For women, it is best if the limit is set at no more than one alcoholic beverage per day. If you begin having bouts with the gout more frequently you should discontinue the use of alcohol altogether.

5. If you are overweight you should begin an exercise routine as well. Limit your food to smaller portions more frequently. Try to include some foods that are beneficial for you and not harmful or will trigger an episode with gout. Some of the snacks you can add into your diet and exercise routine are watermelon, celery and oranges to name a few. These will decrease your hunger without filling you up and not have a negative impact on your gout.

6. It might seem as if your options for food are limited, however you can still continue to eat foods that are tasty and not have a negative reaction with your gout. Among some of the foods you should add to your diet are low-fat dairy products, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, tuna, salmon, nuts, seeds, tofu, tomatoes and fresh fruits such as blueberries, cherries and strawberry.

7. Increase your daily intake of water. It is important for many health reasons that you drink a minimum of eight glasses of water each day. It has been suggested with an increase in water consumption to a daily amount of ten to twelve glasses per day with an alkaline level over seven that the gout will be kept at bay for longer periods of time. This can also assist you in weight loss because the increased water will give your metabolic rate a kick start.

8. Vitamin C amounts can be increased and put into regular daily servings. Try to have at least one serving of vitamin V each day. Here are a few foods that are loaded with vitamin C: red bell peppers, tangerines, red cabbage, potatoes, mandarins and tangerines.

For many people that have been diagnosed with gout, they begin to feel they have lost control of their lives. This is not only physically painful but also emotionally painful as well. However, there is a way for you to minimize the pain associated with gout. You can successfully control gout with diet. It might be a little difficult in the beginning to adjust your eating habits but your efforts will pay off.