Uric Acid is a waste chemical found in your blood. Increased levels can harm your body in several ways. You can develop gout, a type of arthritis that happens if the uric acid levels get too high. Gout can be a life impacting disease. Below are the ways to lower your uric acid levels naturally.
Limit Purine Rich Food
Some of the daily staples that are rich in purine can be blamed for your high uric acid levels. After eating these foods, uric acid is produced as a waste product. Therefore, the higher the breakdown of purine-rich foods, the higher the production of uric acid. Normally, your body filters uric acid through kidneys and flushes it out through the urine. If you consume too much purine through your diet, or your body is unable to flush it fast enough, then uric acid can build up in your blood. So one way to lower your uric acid levels naturally is by limiting purine-rich foods. Organ meats, pork, tuna, sardines and shellfish should be avoided. High-fat foods like bacon, red meat and dairy products should also be avoided.
Eat more Low Purine Foods
You should eat foods that are lower in purine content. This will result in decreased production of uric acid, improving your overall health. Whole grain rice, breads and most fruits and vegetables are good options. If you like dairy products, go for fat-free or low fat versions. Peanut butter is low in purine content and is suitable for people with high uric acid levels.
Limit Sugar Intake
Limiting sugar intake is one of the effective ways to lower your uric acid levels naturally. Nowadays, we eat a lot of processed and refined foods that are loaded with added sugar. Fructose is a major type of sugar found in these foods. Studies have found that this type of sugar can raise uric acid levels excessively. It is advisable to always check labels for added sugar. Switching to whole foods will definitely help lower your sugar intake. Ditch sugary beverages and turn to filtered water and fiber-rich smoothies. It is also important to drink lots of water. This will help your kidneys flush out uric acid faster.
Balance Insulin Levels
Just as it is important to lower your sugar intake, it is also important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Usually people with high blood sugar have too much insulin in their blood. You will be surprised to know that too much insulin leads to extra uric acid along with weight gain. Also, if you have prediabetes, you may have high insulin levels and a greater risk for type 2 diabetes. It is advisable to get your blood sugar and serum insulin levels tested if you have high uric acid levels.
Avoid Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can actually make you more dehydrated. It can even trigger high uric acid levels. Your kidneys have to filter out byproducts of alcohol instead of uric acid and other wastes. Certain types of alcohol drinks, like beer are rich in purines, which raise your uric acid levels.
Drink Coffee
Coffee is an absolute favorite for many of us. Also, studies suggest that people who drink coffee have decreased risk of developing gout. People with high urid acid levels are also at a greater risk of cardiovascular issues. It has been found that long term coffee consumption can lower this risk and also help to improve overall health. But remember, do not go overboard when drinking coffee.
Lose Weight
A decent body weight is the key to good health overall. Obesity not only increases the risk of high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease, but also your risk of developing gout. Fat cells make more uric acid than muscle. Also, carrying extra weight makes it harder for your kidneys to filter out uric acid. You should avoid crash dieting as rapid weight loss leads to higher uric acid levels. It is always good to talk to a nutritionist about which weight loss plan works best for your body.
Reduce Stress
Reducing stress is another important way to lower your uric acid levels naturally. With our fast paced lives, stress is going to happen. It affects both your mental and physical well-being. Stress increases inflammation in your body. Increased inflammation leads to high uric acid levels and chances of developing gout. By making little changes to your routine, you can cope with your stress levels.