In a series of clinical studies published in Clinical Rheumatology and Arthritis and Rheumatology, researchers showed that the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension Diet, known as the DASH diet, reduced elevated uric acid within 30 days.
The DASH diet is rich in fruit, nuts, grains, and vegetables that are particularly abundant in nitrate-rich leafy greens. The DASH diet typically consists of two or more vegetarian-style meals each week with reduced salt, low-fat, and no processed high sugar foods or snacks.
Gout occurs when excess uric acid accumulates. Those afflicted are advised to avoid foods high in purines, such as red meat, alcohol, some seafood, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which the body converts into uric acid. This is why the DASH diet, low in purine-rich foods, may limit the buildup of uric acid and may actually increase the clearance of uric acid from the body.
But how do you know whether you are eating adequate amounts?