I have gout. It is painful and difficult when it flares. I’m stuck unable to walk and do normal activities like drive.
Over the weekend I spent time with my brother-in-law who also has gout. We were talking about what sets off our gout. He told me turkey sets off his gout. I was surprised to hear this because turkey doesn’t set off my gout.
According to Mayo Clinic (http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524) here are the dietary rules to follow:
- Limit meet, poultry and fish
- Cut back on fat
- Limit or avoid alcohol
- Limit or avoid foods sweetened with high fructose corn syrup
- Choose complex carbohydrates
- Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products
- Drink plenty of fluids particularly water
Basically, I can’t eat anything. Okay fruits and vegetables are good. It does say that poultry is better the beef.
Here’s the thing. I know when I eat a lot of beef or chocolate or drink a lot of Coke, I have a flare of my gout. This means I eat beef only occasionally – i.e. once a month or once every couple of months.
When I get stressed out I lean towards chocolate. When I get headaches that don’t go away, I lean towards Coke (from McDonalds is most effective). The problem is these things are really bad for me. I guess I’ll have to keep trying and see what I need to keep out of my diet and what I can keep.