Can you eat pizza with gout?

Gout is a disease linked to the accumulation of uric acid, a substance normally present in our body, resulting from the catabolism of purines, which form nucleic acids (i.e. DNA and RNA).

Normally this substance is eliminated through urine, without causing any consequences. The problem arises when the concentration of uric acid increases beyond a threshold level, mainly due to diet: foods that cause this pathology are beer, shellfish and red meat; not by chance, in the past, this pathology was known as the disease of the rich, as only the upper social classes could eat them frequently.

Since uric acid is more abundant than normal, the kidneys are unable to eliminate it completely and it begins to accumulate, precipitating in the form of crystals, especially at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, causing pain. The joint will appear inflamed, red and swollen.

In the more advanced stages of the disease, urate crystals can also deposit in the tendons and surrounding tissues, forming the so-called tophi , and in the kidneys, causing gouty nephropathy . To avoid all this, it is essential to treat gout promptly: since it is a pathology caused by an incorrect diet, therapy involves a controlled diet. So what are the foods that can be present in this diet?

Gout and Pizza

Pizza is universally loved and, especially in our culture, has a meaning that goes far beyond flavor: it is a true moment of union, of socialization. It should not surprise us that one of the first questions people diagnosed with gout ask is whether they can still eat it.

Pizza is as good as it is hard to digest since it contains carbohydrates, gluten and lactose and the patient can continue to enjoy it, but respecting some conditions. First of all, it is necessary to reduce the frequency with which it is eaten and limit it to small portions; it is necessary to prefer the dough with whole wheat flour and the red variant, choosing a homemade sauce and avoiding adding other toppings, such as mozzarella, sausages or mushrooms.

These are certainly big changes, but they are the only way to enjoy this food. Pizza is not the only common dietary item that needs to be sacrificed: three other foods that patients frequently worry about are cured meats, tuna, and ice cream.

What cured meats can you eat with gout?

Cured meats are also often present on our tables and, in fact, one of the advantages of the latter is that they are perfect for a quick meal. Unfortunately, cured meats are among the foods richest in purines, which means that they significantly increase the levels of uric acid present in the body.

Those affected by this pathology must inevitably eliminate fattier cured meats from their diet, such as mortadella, salami, and smoked variants, while they can continue to eat, albeit in moderate quantities, leaner ones, including bresaola, raw and cooked ham, and turkey breast.

Diet plays a vital role in managing gout, and taking natural supplements can help support joint health. One example of such a supplement is Ostevit , which offers a natural approach to joint pain relief.

Can you eat tuna with gout ?

Unfortunately, this fish is a food rich in purines and therefore not recommended. Tuna is not the only type of fish with high levels of purines: herring, sardines, cod, carp and trout are also not recommended .

However, since eating fish protects against the onset of heart attack, thanks to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, eliminating it completely is not an option; for this reason, doctors suggest preferring blue fish to those listed above and, if you really can't do without giving up tuna, avoid the canned one and eat it in moderate quantities, drinking a lot in order to help the kidneys eliminate the uric acid that forms as a result of the metabolism of purines.

Can you eat ice cream with gout ?

Who doesn't love eating a good ice cream on warm summer evenings, by the sea? The question that arises spontaneously in this context is also this pleasure is denied to those who suffer from gout. Dairy products should never be missing, but ice cream is to be considered a food rich in sugars and certainly not easy to digest, which is why what has been said for foods also applies: it can be eaten rarely and in small quantities.

Sweets in general are not recommended, because they are rich in sugar and can increase cholesterol levels: high blood sugar levels, associated with being overweight, only worsen the course of the disease and favor the onset of acute gout attacks.

It is certainly not easy to adapt to the idea of having to suddenly change your lifestyle, but adjusting your diet in light of these tips represents an investment in your health, since cutting out fats and red meat also helps to avoid other pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, heart attack or stroke.

What else needs to be done

There are still a couple of recommendations given by doctors to those affected by gout: first of all it is necessary to abolish super alcoholic beverages and especially beer. The latter is in fact not recommended even in small doses as it has a very high purine content; as in many other metabolic pathologies, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and do physical activity.

Drinking plenty of water helps the kidneys eliminate excess uric acid, preventing it from precipitating in the form of urate crystals.

In more advanced cases, it becomes essential to combine pharmacological therapy, but, by paying attention to nutrition and doing a lot of physical activity, it is possible to delay this moment a lot and have a completely normal lifestyle.