Uric acid is a toxin produced in everyone’s body and the kidneys filter it and remove it from the body through urine. It is a byproduct that is formed when the body metabolizes chemical substances called purines.
These purines are found in certain foods and are also naturally present in the body. Normally uric acid dissolves in the blood and comes out of the body in the form of urine through the kidneys.
But if the formation of uric acid is very fast or there is some problem in the kidneys, then uric acid starts accumulating in the blood, which is called hyperuricemia. When uric acid levels increase, it takes the form of crystals and accumulates in joints and tissues, causing swelling and pain. This increases the risk of many chronic diseases like gout, kidney stones and heart disease.
Uric acid level increases rapidly due to excessive consumption of red meat like mutton, beef, pork, seafood like sardine, anchovy, mackerel, tuna, herring, organ meats like liver, kidney, brain. Non-vegetarian foods are considered to cause high uric acid but do you know that vegetarian foods also increase uric acid. Consuming some vegetables increases the uric acid level rapidly. A vegetarian diet that includes vegetables and pulses helps control uric acid and prevent gout. Consuming some vegetables increases the uric acid level rapidly. Let us know which are those foods which increase the level of uric acid rapidly.
Hidden risks of vegetarian diet
Consuming a vegetarian diet is beneficial for health but do you know that these vegetables are not completely purine free. Some plants such as soy products, beans, mushrooms, cauliflower, spinach and some sea vegetables contain purines. If these are consumed in excessive amounts, uric acid levels may increase, especially in people who have kidney problems. Consuming certain vegetables daily may increase the risk of acute gout arthritis.
Eating which vegetables increases uric acid?
- Spinach is such a vegetable that if consumed in excess, the level of uric acid increases rapidly. Spinach has high amount of purine. Eating frequently can increase the uric acid level. Especially the amount of purine is high in raw or lightly boiled spinach.
- Consuming mushrooms increases the level of uric acid rapidly. Mushrooms are rich in protein but the purine content is also high. People who have high uric acid should consume mushrooms in limited quantity daily.
- Cauliflower can also increase your uric acid. Despite being a healthy vegetable, purine is found in moderate quantity in it, if it is consumed in excess then the level of uric acid increases rapidly.
- Both peas and dried peas have moderate to high purine content. If people who have high uric acid consume it, the uric acid level increases rapidly. Eating it frequently can increase pain and swelling in joints.
- Rajma and gram can also increase uric acid. Both these foods are good sources of protein, but they contain purines. Uric acid patients should not eat kidney beans and gram more than 1-2 times a week.
- Okra also increases the level of uric acid rapidly. Okra also contains mild purines, which can increase uric acid in sensitive people.
Which diet should vegetarian people consume?
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) said in a report that lacto-vegetarian i.e. milk and plant-based foods are helpful in reducing uric acid levels. The levels of purines found in plant-based foods are lower than those in animal products such as seafood and red meat, which play a major role in increasing uric acid.