Purines belong to a group of aromatic organic compounds that contain carbon rings and nitrogen atoms. This is something that is produced naturally in the human body. It is one of the bases in nucleic acid, but there are also the others such as uric acid, caffeine, adenosine, theobromine and theophylline.
Purine has a very significant role to play in the body metabolism and is a powerful antioxidant and the deficiency or overproduction of purine can cause diseases such as xanthinuria, gout, and many other diseases.
Gout is a purine metabolic disease. It is also better known as hyperuricemia and is a very common disease and is caused due to the overproduction of uric acid. When the uric acid levels increase, it is deposited in the joints and it causes pain and inflammation. The only remedy for this is a Low purine diet along with medication. It is also important to maintain an ideal body weight and exercise regularly.
The patient who suffers with gout will have to switch to a Low purine diet. The diet should mainly consist of fruit juices and fruits. Drinking plenty of water also helps as it flushes out the toxins in the body and that includes uric acid as well. This will also help in the prevention of formation of uric acid crystals in the joints.
Some vegetables such as mushrooms, cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, beans, and green peas contain moderate amounts of purine; hence their consumption should ideally be limited. However, it is important to note that there is no substantial data to confirm if this affects the purine metabolism or not. Tomatoes and green leafy vegetables are ideal if you are on a Low purine diet as they have low purine content.
When you are on a Low purine diet, it is best to avoid all forms of organ meat or red meat as they have high purine content. Tofu is highly recommended along with milk products, nuts, etc. Dark berries help reduce uric acid. Seafood and alcohol is best avoided. The diet should contain a lot of complex carbohydrates and the protein intake should be limited.