People with gout are advised to avoid alcohol or drink alcohol in moderation, drink plenty of water and fluids, maintain an ideal body weight, lose weight if overweight but avoid fasting or quick weight loss schemes, and to avoid eating foods high in purines.
While it's important for people with gout to avoid purine-rich foods, people want to know what they should eat. Dietary guidelines have changed over time. The most current recommendations, according to UpToDate, suggest that gout patients eat or drink:
- Low-fat dairy products
- Food made with complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, brown rice, oats, & beans
- A moderate amount of wine, up to two 5 ounce servings per day
- Coffee (may lower serum uric acid levels)
- Vitamin C (500 mg per day may mildly lower uric acid levels)
