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Hello Gout Education,
The Gout Education Society is committed to raising awareness of gout—the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. The Society arms healthcare professionals, like you, with resources to share with patients and staff—and provides you with access to the most up-to-date research and information about gout and treatment options through GoutEducation.org.
Those who have gout can often under- or over-estimate the role that diet and lifestyle changes play in the management of the disease. As a gout specialist, it's vital that you help your patients understand how these modifications can be beneficial in preventing future flares and improving other health issues. Alongside daily uric acid-lowering medications, diet and lifestyle modifications can prove to be a powerful treatment option to attack the root cause of the disease: excess uric acid.
Read on to learn more about modifications that Society recommends talking to your patients about considering as a part of their treatment regimen.
Dietary Modifications
While some patients incorrectly believe that diet alone can be the end-all for managing the disease, the Society recognizes the role of diet in improving the patient's underlying health conditions. Helping patients understand that eating a healthy diet is key to improving their overall health is the first step. While there is no official “gout diet,” the Society recommends a few options that promote foods lower in purines, fat and sodium:
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Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet – This diet focuses on foods that help lower blood pressure, one of the metabolic conditions that can impact gout.
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Mediterranean Diet – This diet focuses foods avoiding foods known to trigger flares and replace them with vegetables, fruits and fish.
Lifestyle Changes
Getting patients active and to a healthy body weight is important for those who have gout. Making lifestyle modifications can be a critical piece of the puzzle and the Society recommends adding the following to patients' regimen:
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Exercise - The CDC recommends that adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week.
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Maintain Body Weight and Other Benchmarks - Those who are obese are three times more likely to develop gout than those with a normal body weight. Other healthy benchmarks to keep in mind include a cholesterol of 200 mg/dL or below and a blood pressure of 130/80 or less.
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Staying Hydrated - Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day to help the body transport nutrients/waste and cushion joints/tissues. Research also shows that staying hydrated can guard against kidney stones, which are common affliction associated with gout.
To help patients understand what healthy lifestyle choices when living with gout, please see our Gout Diet & Lifestyle page.
Have any questions or need resources? Email us: [email protected].
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