Millions of people worldwide suffer from gout, a form of arthritis caused by hyperuricemia, a condition when crystals of uric acid accumulate around joints. Inflammation, swelling, and pain occur when the body produces too much uric acid, and the kidneys fail to filter it enough. In general, uric acid causes gout because of purines. Gout is a painful form of arthritis, and it can be reduced by avoiding high-purine foods and regulating our diet.
There is a lot of speculation and believe onions and gout are related. Onions are a staple in many diets, are a healthy source of vitamin C, and have anti-inflammatory properties, so it is believed that when consumed properly, they help fight chronic diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and type-1 diabetes. However, whether onions are safe for gout patients or reduce gout symptoms is unclear.
What Is Gout And Which Foods Cause It?
Gout is a metabolic disorder characterized by high uric acid levels in the body, causing urate crystals in joints and kidneys. Gout has no cure; the only way to control gout is to control uric acid production in the body. Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism within the body. Furthermore, purines are the most common compound on the planet. There are two types of purines: endogenous and exogenous. Endogenous purines are absorbed through the food we consume, whereas endogenous purines are made directly by the body itself.
Some sea fish and shellfish, such as sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, trout, haddock, and anchovies, are enriched with purines. And meat, such as bacon, veal, turkey, venison, and organ meat like liver, are also rich in purine. Alcohol, especially beer, also raises uric acid levels. As per many physicians, alcohol should be avoided because it not only increases uric acid but also inhibits the body’s ability to process and eliminate it.
What Are The Effects Of Onions On Gout
The onion is one of the most essential vegetables in the diet. More importantly, it is used in several ways, including as a salad seasoning, in soups and gravies, and can also be consumed raw or fried; in a nutshell, we can say many foods or recipes are simply incomplete without onions. When doctors advise gout patients to restrict purines, many of us might wonder whether onions are suitable for gout. Well, onions are low-purine foods (in 100 g, 3.5 oz of uric acid), so they are safe for gout.
They also have many other health benefits beyond low purines. They are rich in vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and copper; their antioxidant properties and vitamin C aid in reducing joint inflammation. Onions are also an alkaline-forming food that minimises kidney stone chances when taken in moderation in a healthy diet. They treat gout proactively.
Which Onions Types Are Effective For Gout?
Onions come in wide varieties, like spring onions, shallots, white onions, sweet onions, and many more. Although all types are beneficial, brown onions (red onions) contain the highest levels of quercetin, which reduces uric acid and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They lower blood cholesterol levels and regulate haemoglobin levels. The main worry of arthritis patients is swelling, inflammation, and joint pain. Consumption of onions may help ease the arthritis pain and reduce swelling. Because of their various health benefits, onions should be part of a gout patient’s diet.
Onions can be consumed in various ways: grilled, fried, boiled, or steamed. Onions are most effective raw or in salads. Cooking for more than 30 minutes destroys nutrients. Remember that onions might be low in purine, but they might lose their effectiveness when you cook them with high-purine foods. For example, when you cook onions with meat and suffer from a gout attack, the reason could be meat because meat has a higher purine level which can cause an increase in uric acid.
Conclusion
Gout and onions are related in a positive sense. Onions have essential vitamins and minerals and have anti-inflammatory properties that fight diseases. Generally, gout is painful, and onions reduce swelling and pain when taken in moderation. You should always be careful about how you cook onions if you take them with vegetables high in purines (spinach and cauliflower). That will probably increase your uric acid level.
Beautifully written article with simple and precise details backed with proper research. Keep up the good work to writer.
An excellent article for Gout patients. Being a patient I can tell that this article has covered all the details.