Alcohol and Gout: What and How Much Can I Drink?   by Mark

in Health / Diseases and Conditions    (submitted 2011-08-18)

Gout limits one's freedom in food choices so much that it becomes almost impossible to "live." As if that was not enough, it limits what we can drink as well. To a gout sufferer, anything that can be a medium for indulging--like alcohol--is a no-no. Although we are not promoting drinking in any way, the simple truth is that man needs his alcohol. Drinking is not just about getting drunk; it can be a means for socializing, for catching up with friends, and can even benefit one's health when taken in healthy doses. Case in point, a glass of wine everyday is good for the heart.

When it comes to gout, is alcohol really that bad? My preliminary research tells me that alcohol contains purines which is responsible for uric acid formation in the body. Basing from that alone, any gout should wisely avoid alcohol. However, purines are just so abundant in foods that avoiding them altogether is nearly impossible. Almost all animal products have them, and if you avoid these foods, you risk not getting the right nutrients your body needs. When it comes to alcohol, moderating consumption is the best option.

But still, there are different kinds of alcohol so we need to know which ones are worse than others, and how much is safely allowed. At this point, we should start with the worst: beer. Beer is in fact the only singled out drink in the gout world because of the risks it poses. Numerous studies have been conducted relating beer with gout and it has always resulted positive--that drinking beer increases one's risk. In fact, drinking only a bottle a week is enough to put you at risk. When it comes to beer, I say avoid it altogether. If you cannot however, be as much much of a social drinker as you can be--one bottle per occasion.

The good news is that there are other alcoholic drinks that are still somewhat allowed. The same studies that tested beer also happened to include alcoholic beverages. Wine and spirits do not increase risk factors. These drinks contain purines as well but the amounts are not that significant. But don't go out celebrating yet; everything should still be consumed in moderation. That is the golden rule and it does not only apply to gout victims.

It's quite funny that a disease associated with the rich has singled out a drink that is more for the common man. Anyway, to sum up, gout is not beer-friendly; wine and spirits are allowed but should be taken in moderation.

About the Author

Read about the largest study--spanned 12 years--that linked drinking beer and gout.