When uric acid is mentioned, a lot of people immediately think about gout. Well, they are right to do so — excess uric acid in the blood can cause the formation of crystals (they’re called urate crystals, by the way) that can get lodged in the joints. Needless to say, the presence of urate crystals in the joints can cause a lot of pain.

Actually, your body is capable of getting rid of uric acid before it has the opportunity to form into urate crystals. However, it can be a huge problem if the body cannot eliminate a lot of it in time, such as if the diet introduces excessive amounts of uric acid into the bloodstream.

Uric acid is the byproduct of purine, an organic compound found in certain foods. Some of the top food sources of the said compound include alcoholic beverages, dried beans, shellfish, sardines, codfish, haddock, trout, herring, turkey, venison, bacon, and organ meats such as liver.

When purine is broken down, it becomes uric acid. Needless to say, a diet that contains a lot of purine-rich foods can cause the bloodstream to become flooded with uric acid, thus leading to the collection of urate crystals in the joints.

If you are diagnosed with gout, it goes without saying that it’s important for you to considerably limit your intake of foods that contain purine. Otherwise, it’s for certain that you will encounter severe joint pain. And by the way, it can also cause your blood and pee to become acidic, which can come with certain complications.

Aside from steering clear of foods that are packed with purines, it’s also a good idea for you to regularly consume those that are proven to help reduce uric acid in the blood. The following are some really good examples:

Leafy Greens

Perhaps you already know that fact that fiber helps sweep excess cholesterol, fat and sugar out of the body. Well, you can add uric acid to the list of things that fiber can help get rid of.

It’s exactly for this reason why you should regularly consume green leafy vegetables if you are instructed by your doctor to reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood. Kale, spinach, collard greens, romaine lettuce, cabbage, Swiss chards, bok choi, turnip greens, arugula — these and other leafy greens can help lower uric acid levels.

Cherries

A lot of individuals know very well that fresh cherries make for excellent jams, preserves and pickles. However, not a lot of people are aware of the fact that cherries are also superb fighters of uric acid.

Based on numerous scientific investigations, the reason why cherries are beneficial for individuals who are fighting gout is because they have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce associated joint pain and swelling. Cherries also have fiber and antioxidants that help keep the joints from accumulating urate crystals.

Citrus Fruits

Experts say that excess uric acid can be fended off with another acid — ascorbic acid or vitamin C. Fortunately for gout sufferers, there are so many food sources of vitamin C on the face of the planet. Leading the list are citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes. Tropical fruits like papayas, guavas and mangoes are rich in vitamin C, too.

You can also obtain good amounts of vitamin C from an assortment of vegetables. Some wonderful examples are cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, turnip greens and red bell peppers.

Water

Believe it or not, something as simple as drinking plenty of water per day is usually enough to keep high uric acid levels in the bloodstream at bay. Health authorities recommend the consumption of about 2 liters — approximately 8 glasses — of water daily

Definitely, the intake of fresh juices can help a lot since it also supplies the body with plenty of water. It’s a fantastic idea for you to consume in juice form the fruits and vegetables mentioned earlier in this article.