Study finds this particular diet reduces risk of gout

Researchers say avoiding a ‘Western diet’ and sticking to a particular array of plant-based foods could be the key to avoiding gout.

Gout is a painful arthritic condition that often starts in the toe and can spread to other parts of the foot.

It is caused by a build up of uric acid, which is usually discarded from the body by the kidneys.

If the acid is not removed it can form small crystals around the joints, causing inflammation, pain and swelling.

Now, researchers from the Harvard Medical School in Boston say adhering to the DASH diet is associated with a lower risk of gout.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is high in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and low-fat dairy, and low in red and processed meats, salt, and sugary drinks.

Previous studies have proven it’s links to lowering blood pressure and it is also recommended for the prevention of heart disease as its high-fibre and low red meat structure reduces inflammation.

Read more: Reducing your risk of gout

After another study showed the DASH diet reduces uric acid in the blood, the team at Harvard set out to investigate whether it could reduce the risk of gout overall.

They analysed data from more than 44,000 men over 26 years and found evidence supporting their theory.

“The DASH diet is associated with a lower risk of gout, suggesting that its effect of lowering uric acid levels in individuals with hyperuricemia translates to a lower risk of gout,” the wrote in the study, which was published in The BMJ.

“Conversely, the Western diet is associated with a higher risk of gout. The DASH diet may provide an attractive preventive dietary approach for men at risk of gout.”

Have you suffered from gout? Would you try this diet?