Are tomatoes restricted in treating gout?
Asked by anonymous on Sep 21, 2009
in Health Conditions
My elderly mother has gout and she was told she can't eat tomatoes. Are tomatoes high in purines or can she eat them?
Answer
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by a build up of uric acid. In the past, plants of the nightshade family - tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers - were eliminated to treat osteoarthritis but there is no scientific basis for that. Diet therapy for gout limits foods that are very high in purines because purines breakdown to uric acid. Limited foods include organ meats; game meat; large portions of all meat, like bacon, beef, pork, and lamb; anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel and scallops; meat gravies and extracts; and beer. Research suggests that vegetarian diets high in purines from vegetables and soy products are less likely to cause gout than diets containing meat and seafood. It is also important to drink water and other fluids to flush out uric acid and to lose weight when needed.
What type of food should not be eaten?
Calorie Count does not prescribe a particular diet or tell people to avoid particular foods. We only ask that you eat a balanced diet... Read more