Uric acid is a waste product found in the blood. It’s created when the body breaks down chemicals called purines. Most uric acid dissolves in the blood pass through the kidneys and leaves the body in urine. Food and drinks high in purines also increase the level. It is created when the body breaks down purines and is found as a waste product in blood. It is a compound of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
When we eat something, the body absorbs the nutrients like vitamins, protein, etc and the waste gets excreted. So, most of the uric acid gets excreted through urine.
Abnormal uric acid level, whether high or low is undesirable. Hypouricemia is either genetic or can be caused when the diet has very little purine content.
Hyperuricemia or a high level of it is very common and is caused when the purine is more than it can be processed in the body, and the uric acid starts increasing in the blood. It leads to uric acid deposition in the form of crystals in the skin, tissues, and joints causing gout or arthritis. It may also cause kidney stones and other cardiovascular diseases.
Causes of Increased Uric Acid:
The most common cause of high uric acid is the inability of the kidney to eliminate uric acid efficiently. This slowdown of the functioning of the kidney is due to the consumption of rich foods, diabetes, too much alcohol intake, taking diuretics, or being overweight.
It can also be caused due to the intake of a purine-rich diet like liver, gravy, sardines, peas, etc which results in too much uric acid production.
Other causes include hypothyroidism, chemotherapy, genetics, etc.
Foods to avoid in case of high uric acid:
Purine-rich foods like sugary foods, seafood, red meats, alcoholic beverages, organ meats; Vegetables like spinach, beans, peas, lentils, cauliflower, etc.
Difference between purine-rich food and protein:
We generally confuse purine-rich foods with protein. Uric acid is the waste product of purine and is not produced by the metabolism of protein in the body.
The chemical structure of purine is different from protein as purines are nitrogen-containing compounds that come from the food we eat or from the breakdown of nucleic acids in the body. But most of the high purine foods are rich in protein too.
Foods that lower the Uric Acid level:
A study was conducted to check the effect of milk and its products on uric acid levels. The study concluded that the consumption of milk reduces the serum urate concentration by 10% approx.
Vitamin C is one of the dietary approaches to reduce uric acid levels. Various human clinical trials have shown ascorbic acid to reduce the SUA.
Some studies suggest that coffee consumption reduces the SUA, but the current evidence is insufficient to prove the same.
Weight loss and a good lifestyle can improve insulin sensitivity and indirectly help in reducing uric acid levels.
References:
By
Amrita Bhatia
Fittr Coach
INFS & NESTA Certified
Instagram @fittrwithamrita