This month I plan to complete reorganizing the Gout Diet section. There are several old format pages to transfer, but I plan to move all the detailed nutritional information to a separate food diary website, and reorganize the rest to fit the different topics in thee Gout Diet section.
I will look at the detailed nutritional information soon, but for now, I am moving the other pages, starting with the old introduction to the Gout Diet section. My understanding of gout diet, and how to manage it, has improved since I last reviewed the old introduction in 2009. However, many of the points are still valid, so I republish an amended version here.
Planning a Diet for Gout Patients
To plan a diet for gout patients, you need to understand why special diets are necessary. You also need to know which other health factors are important to diet.
The common view of diets is a routine of semi-starvation and discomfort in order to lose weight. The common view of diet for gout sufferers is a regimen of zero purine tolerance and discomfort.
My view is that both these approaches are wrong. A successful diet for gout patients must consider several causes of gout. It must also bring comfort, or you will never stick with it.
Causes of Gout
Diets for weight loss are important to gout sufferers. Gout and obesity have been linked for centuries. You can determine how important weight loss is to you by looking at my page on diet for gout and weight loss. You will see that, even if your average weight is OK, rapid fluctuations during the day can trigger gout attacks. A good diet for gout patients should encourage regular meals, avoiding periods of starvation or overeating.
General Health
A good diet for gout patients must consider all health issues. This is particularly important as many gout sufferers also endure other diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Omitting entire food groups may harm general health. A good diet for gout patients must be balanced across all food groups.
Food Types and Food Groups
Gout diet is all about putting food together to produce meals for consumption in a way that suits gout sufferers. As well as understanding yourself and your gout causes, you need to understand how different food types and food groups affect your gout.
You must look at gout foods with respect to your own gout treatment plan. I recommend analyzing the foods in your current diet, and making sure that total diet is in keeping with your gout treatment plan. In that way, when considering gout foods, there are no good or bad foods, just suitable or unsuitable according to the individual gout patient’s needs.
Lifestyle
I do not believe that a diet for gout patients should be restricted to food matters. Your diet must consider exercise and metabolism.
One aspect of lifestyle that worries many gout sufferers is the effects of alcohol. I research this regularly, as a practical part of my gout diet, and by seeking scholarly reports. There is a lot of conflicting information, and many opposing views. Why not share your experience and discuss gout and alcohol at the link in that article.
My new gout diet plan will replace many of the old pages listed below. For now, you can still get some valuable information from them. In particular, my diet tips are still good. My points system might be too simplistic and I might drop it, but it still has some value, because simple is best. Food diary is linked with triggers, which I am redeveloping.
” If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to develop a lifestyle that supports your healthy weight. It is about progress, not perfection. “
For complete information about planning a diet for gout, please see the Gout Diet Section.
Leave Diet for Gout Patients to browse other Diet For Gout pages
