Are you having a gout flare-up, and you do not know why? Well, it may be the tomatoes. Gout is a painful form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joints due to high uric acid levels in your body. Uric acid already exists in your body, but certain foods contain it. These foods can cause gout flare-ups. If you’re suffering from gout, the Best Orthopedic doctor in Lahore will tell you which foods to eat and avoid but right now, let’s focus on one of them: tomatoes.
Can tomatoes lead to gout flare-ups?
Along with many other vitamins and nutrients, tomatoes contain purine which breaks down to form uric acid. Some studies suggest that due to their purine content, consuming tomatoes can trigger gout symptoms. However, this might not always be the case. Tomatoes may trigger gout in some people, but it does not hold necessarily true for every gout patient.
Your body is the primary source of uric acid, and only a small amount comes from eating foods rich in purine. Hence, some foods may worsen gout symptoms in some people while having no effect on others. Other foods that have purine include:
- Red meat
- Alcohol
- Seafood
- Organ meat
- Beverages that are full of fructose
Symptoms of gout
You should know the symptoms of gout in order to determine whether you have gout or not. If you have gout, you will have gout attacks. The signs you have a gout attack include severe joint pain, swelling, redness, or limited range of motion in your joints. As most doctors will warn you, untreated gout can lead to frequent and worse gout attacks.
How to know if tomatoes are worsening your gout?
As we eat a diverse range of ingredients every day, it gets hard to detect what is causing gout to exasperate. It can be due to consuming some foods or because your kidneys are not removing uric acid from your body efficiently.
Keeping a food journal can be beneficial if you are suffering from gout. It can help you keep track of everything you have eaten in the day. By eliminating or adding certain foods, you can identify foods that may trigger your gout.
If you eat tomatoes on a regular basis and feel pain or swelling in your joints, you can also consult the Best Orthopedic Surgeon in Karachi to get it checked.
Should you eliminate tomatoes from your diet?
Tomato is a low-calorie and nutrient-rich food. It is a good source of Vitamin C and helps in reducing blood pressure. It has many health benefits, and completely boycotting them may deprive you of its benefits. It is also a staple ingredient in many dishes, and it may be tough to eliminate it. If you have determined that tomatoes worsen your gout symptoms, you can substitute them for other ingredients. Other healthy ingredients that you can use instead of tomatoes include tamarind, bell peppers, and pumpkin.
Preventing gout
Some lifestyle and diet changes that can help you prevent gout are:
- Losing weight
- Managing stress
- Avoiding food triggers
- Drink plenty of water
- Physical activity
Pain during an episode of gout can be very excruciating. You can avoid it by the changes above and maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle.
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