Gout is a type of arthritis that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by sudden and severe joint pain, redness, and swelling, often in the big toe. While many foods have been associated with an increased risk of gout, one food in particular has been the subject of much debate: onions. Onions are a staple in many diets and are used in a variety of dishes, but some people believe that they may be bad for gout. In this blog, we will explore the link between onions and gout, as well as the latest research on this topic, to help you make an informed decision about whether or not onions are bad for gout.
So, What is Gout Actually
Gout is inflammatory arthritis. It comes from an abnormal reaction to high uric acid levels in one’s blood. This condition is well-known as hyperuricemia. Microscopic needle-like crystals are formed in the associated tissue and the joints.
Uric acid in the blood is one of the byproducts of purine metabolism. Purines exist in the cells of the body and food we eat. So anyone who has gout must be careful about what they are eating.
Thus good to understand more about onions and gout and their benefits. Let’s dive in and learn more.
Onion & Gout: The Benefits
Onions are among the allium family. This includes chives, scallions, shallots, leeks, and garlic.
The health benefits of onions
Onions are very low in calories though they are high in minerals and vitamins. Moreover, they are high in vitamins B6, C, potassium, and B9 (folate). These have great health benefits. Keep reading!
Vitamin C in the onions
- Help the functioning of the immune system
- Good to prevent asthma and common colds
- Good in maintaining blood sugar levels of individuals
- Control the high blood pressure
- Protect heart diseases, cancer, and stroke diseases
Folate in onions: Folate is essential for forming red blood cells. Besides, it supports cell function and cell growth. It is again crucial in the early stage of pregnancy to avoid different birth defects.
Pyridoxine: This helps the entire system of central nerves to function well. Also, it supports hemoglobin manufacture and protein and glucose metabolism.
Potassium; is important and plays a major role in ensuring the body’s cells function normally. Also, it ensures you have a regular heartbeat, properly functioning body muscles, and good regulation of fluid balance. Besides, it assists in counteracting any effects from sodium to maintain blood pressure.
Onions also are the best source of dietary fiber for gut health. This is particularly the soluble fibers known as fractals that are essential for feeding beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Onions are also the perfect source of phosphorous, copper, and manganese.
Onions & Gout: The Risks
Consuming a lot of onions and green onions can affect your health. Thus have the following:
- Increase in blood pressure
- Increase in abdominal pain
- Increase in gas formation
- Stimulate a serious cough and shortness of breath in people with bronchial asthma.
To avoid such possible side reactions, make sure to get some advice from your trusted specialists. Besides, you require to ensure they are aware of any existing diseases.
The contradiction of onions for gout
- Presence of hypertension
- When you have allergies
- When you have inflammatory diseases that include duodenum and stomach
- In case there are gallstone diseases
- Anaemia
- Pyelonephritis
- Epileptic seizures
Low Purine Foods
A low-purine food is a diet that limits meals with high purine. Different foods have natural substances that are known as purines. By all means, you must ensure no consumption of high amounts of purines.
Consumption of purine produces uric acid as a waste product. Also, the buildup of these uric acid crystals causes health issues in the joints. Gout and kidney stones are one of these health issues you can get from high consumption of purine.
Thus vital to have control of purine intake. Additionally, you must ensure you understand the types of drinks and food you need to limit and avoid.
The best food that is low in purine includes:
- Skim or 1% milk
- Nuts, eggs, and peanut butter
- Fat-free and low-fat cheese and ice cream
- All fruit juices and fruits
- Sweets, sugar, and gelatin
- Oil and fat
- Soda, water, coffee, tea, and cocoa
How to Make Onions Part of a Gout Diet
For sure, onions and gouts are very connected. Flavonoid is produced, which fights and affects histamines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins. These are some of the inflammation that causes compounds. However, quercetin inhibits them, showing great improvement in OA and RA.
The compound also reduces bad cholesterol or LDL in the human blood and reduces some risk of heart diseases. Also, this compound reduces the risk of cancer disease.
Additionally, onions are valuable food products. They satisfy the body’s needs for minerals and normalize the body’s blood circulation.
Other Foods to Avoid When You Have Gout
It is necessary to watch what you eat when you have gout. You can benefit from a low-purine diet. This will assist you to prevent gout, especially if you have hyperuricemia and have not yet developed the disease. As well you will get more help if you have existing gout. The right food will ensure it doesn’t progress and avoid other complications.
Food to avoid when you have gout
There are some drinks and food that can trigger gout. They include the following:
High fructose corn syrup: This is one of the fructose forms. While buying this product, you need to check the label where it is written high fructose corn syrup in a different kind of packaged food.
Sugary sweets and drinks: Mostly, all standard table sugar are half fructose. They are normally converted into uric acid. Any drink or food with high sugar content can trigger your gout.
Organ meats: These include kidneys, brains, tripe sweetbreads, and liver.
Alcohol: Not all alcoholic drinks are very high in purines. Mostly alcohol will hinder your kidneys from eliminating the uric acid. Also, it will pull it back to your body and thus have great accumulation.
Certain seafood: This includes mussels, scallops, herring, tuna, codfish, haddock, and trout.
Game meats: Some specialties include veal, goose, and venison, which are why gout affects the middle ages.
Red meats: This includes bacon, lamb, pork, and beef.
Turkey: This meat is very high in purines. Mostly this affects the processed deli turkey.
Dietary Supplements for Gout
In fact, there is no accurate pill for gout. However, certain supplements can fight inflammation. They reduce uric acid levels. Boost the body’s immune system. Considering to add supplements to your plan of care will reduce and ease the gout symptoms.
A good example of these supplements include:
Vitamin C: This is known because of its antioxidant properties. Its great purpose is to neutralize free radicals. Besides, it keeps the tissues and cells healthy and prevents damage. Vitamin C minimizes high uric acid levels. This is by stimulating the kidneys to flush all the uric acid.
Fish oil: Fish oil supplement is good to ease gout symptoms. The reason is the presence of available omega-3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA, that is, in fish oil, have very strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Bromelain extract: Bromelain is made from pineapples. It is a digestive enzyme that holds an anti-inflammatory ability. This bromelain extract is used to treat people with gout problems, joint pain, osteoarthritis, and arthritis to reduce pain, swelling, redness, and muscle soreness.
Ginger extract: Traditionally, this extract is used to treat and relieve different health problems. It has an anti-inflammatory property very effective for those who have gout symptoms. Besides, ginger extract is essential for suppressing inflammation and reducing higher uric acid levels.
Turmeric Extract: Turmeric has a compound called curcumin, which makes it the perfect anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and anti-bacterial agent. Besides, it reduces high uric acid levels and alleviates inflammation.
Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Symptoms of Gout
Many a time, lifestyle measures like dietary changes assist much in lowering uric acid levels. This is the chemical that is deposited in joints causing someone to have gout. Nonetheless, changes in diet in most people will not prevent gout. They as well need medication to boost their situation. However, different changes in what is consumed can reduce gouty flares.
Regardless of avoiding a particular food, eating a healthy diet is vital. As well you need to ensure you are not obese or overweight. Losing weight is essential when you need to lower uric acid levels. Moreover, you need to drink more fluids, limiting alcohol and sweetened drinks.
Don’t Eat Organ Meats
Organ meats are, in one way or another, nutritious food. However, they have more cholesterol, particularly in the heart and liver. The organ meat includes kidneys and liver, heart, brain, bones, blood and skin, stomach lining, tongue, and sweetbreads which are thymus and pancreases.
Due to this high cholesterol, many complain of stroke and heart attack. A good piece of advice is that whenever you want to eat organ meats, ensure it is moderate.
Moreover, some game organs have a higher amount of metals and chemicals compared with meat. The kidneys and liver filter metals and chemicals from the blood. This affects many of the body’s organs. Besides, the chemicals can accumulate in the animal’s brain.
Frequently Ask and Question (FAQs)
Q: Does onion reduce uric acid?
A: From the research, onion juice can lower the uric acid level. However, it depends on the dose-dependent manner.
Q: Can onions cause gout flare?
A: Onions can trigger a flare. Thus vital to use them moderately.
Q: Is onion good for joint pain?
A: Yes. This is one of the vegetables with anti-inflammatory chemicals that reduces joint pains.
Conclusion
A big question is whether eating onions for gout is important to consult your physician. For sure this is one of the products with pros and cons at the same time. You can find the side effects prevail much over the positive effects.
Thus, to ensure there are no complications, choosing the right treatment and recipe regime for onions with gout is the way to go. Moreover, you need to consult the right specialist if you have a history of other diseases.
