Uric Acid

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Uric acid is a waste byproduct from the digestion of foods that contains Purines (component of protein). Purine are a type of chemical compound found in foods and drinks that are a part of natural diet. Purines that a person eats, are metabolized by the body. Specially, liver breaks down the purines and produces a waste product called uric acid. The uric acid is released into the bloodstream and is eventually filtered by kidneys and excreted in the urine.

If too much uric acid builds up in the bloodstream it is called Hyperuricemia.

In some people, hyperuricemia can cause kidney stones and intense inflammatory joint conditions called Gout. Other people have absolutely no symptoms of high uric acid levels and they are referred as – “asymptomatic”.

Most of the uric acid leaves your body when you pee, and some when you poop.

80% by pee

20% by stool

Your body needs 6 mg/dl uric acid.

Purines can be divided into two categories:

Endogenous purines that are manufactured by the body.
Exogenous purines that enter the body via food.

Purine present in:

Sea food
Fish
Red meat
Less in chicken
Dry peas
Alcoholic beverages, especially beer
Organ meats.

Several factors that increase uric acid:

By taking large amount of purines made food products
Certain health disorders can also lead to high uric acid levels:
Kidney diseases
Diabetes
Hypothyroidism
Some types of cancers
Psoriasis
Having a family history
Being overweight
Drinking too much alcohol
Taking certain mediations:
Aspirin
Vitamin B-3 (niacin)
Diuretics
Immune-suppressing drugs
Chemotherapy drugs

Symptoms you can see during high uric acid levels:

Intense joint pain ( in knees, ankles, wrists, and elbows )
Redness, tenderness and swelling of the joints
Kidney stones
Strange lumps around your joints
Pain in big toe.

What to take in diet:

Drink more water
Eat more raw vegetables
Take lime water
Take vitamin C enriched foods
Take more fruits
Cherry
Apples
Kiwi
Bananas
Blueberries
Strawberry
Pears
Lemon
Oranges
Amla
Guava
Papaya
Pineapple ( contains Bromelain, which digests protein)
More potassium
High fibre
Salads (cucumber, carrots , celery leaves, capsicum)
Take celery seeds (ajwain), Soak half spoon celery leaves in water overnight and eat in morning.
Eat ginger
Giloy plant, Cut the stems and put it in boiling water and boil it until water gets half and drink the water.
Take triphala (more in potassium)
Green tea
Apple cider vinegar
Milk with turmeric powder
Eat broccoli
Peanut butter
Nuts
Rice, bread
Potatoes
Coffee
Warm water with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and turmeric
Nettle tea
Dandelion tea
Hibiscus tea or extract
Bath of Epson salts ( relives pain )
“ reduce stress”
People on a low purine diet should drink plenty of water to aid with digestion and lower uric acid concentrations in the blood.

Limit the source of purines in your diet by not taking:

Organs meats
Pork
Turkey
Fish
Mutton
List of Not to take pulses: black gram( urd dal), masur lentils( masur ki dal), beans ( rajma), chickpea(channa), garbanzo beans( cholle)
Cauliflower
Green peas
Dried beans
Mushrooms
Avoid sugary products and sugar
Avoid alcohol
Less tomatoes
Weight loss
No spinach ( if you want to take spinach then squeeze some lemon juice on it and then take it but only sometimes )
Less sodium intake ( salt )
No high fat dairy products (consume only less or no fat dairy products)
No high fat foods
For body builders, They take more protein products, so should have more intake of water.