What Should People With High Uric Acid Avoid?

January 9, 2026 •

3 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dietary choices play a significant role in managing hyperuricemia. It is crucial to understand what people with high uric acid should avoid, as certain foods and beverages can cause levels to spike, potentially leading to painful gout attacks and other health complications. This article provides a comprehensive guide on dietary and lifestyle considerations to help manage this condition effectively.

Quick Summary

This guide details the specific foods and drinks to avoid or limit when managing high uric acid levels. It focuses on high-purine foods, sugary beverages, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates, explaining how these items contribute to hyperuricemia and can trigger painful gout attacks.

Key Points

High-Purine Foods: Limit or avoid organ meats (liver, kidneys), certain seafood (sardines, anchovies), red meats, and game meats to control uric acid production.
Sugary Drinks and Fructose: Cut out sugary sodas, fruit juices with added sugar, and high-fructose corn syrup, as they increase uric acid levels.
Alcohol Restriction: Avoid beer and limit hard liquor, which both interfere with the body’s ability to excrete uric acid.
Hydration is Key: Drink plenty of water to help your kidneys effectively flush excess uric acid from your system.
Moderate Protein Intake: Opt for low-fat dairy, lean poultry, and plant-based protein sources like legumes and nuts over high-purine meats.
Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight through gradual changes, as obesity is a major risk factor for high uric acid and gout.
Incorporate Low-Purine Foods: Focus on a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to help manage and lower uric acid levels.

The Importance of Managing Uric Acid Levels

Uric acid is a natural waste product created when the body breaks down purines, substances found in certain foods and also produced naturally by the body. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood, is filtered by the kidneys, and is excreted through urine. However, if your body produces too much uric acid or your kidneys cannot remove it efficiently, levels can become elevated—a condition called hyperuricemia. This can lead to the formation of sharp urate crystals in the joints, causing gout, a painful form of inflammatory arthritis.

Repeated gout attacks can cause permanent joint damage and lead to other serious health problems, such as chronic kidney disease and painful kidney stones. Managing your diet and lifestyle is a key part of controlling uric acid levels and preventing future flares.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit

Limiting or avoiding certain foods and drinks is a primary strategy for those with high uric acid. These include items high in purines, fructose, and alcohol.

High-Purine Foods

Foods high in purines break down into uric acid, increasing levels in the blood. For better management, focus on a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

Organ Meats: These are extremely high in purines and should be avoided. Examples include liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, and brain.
Red and Game Meats: High purine content. Limit intake, especially during a gout flare. This includes beef, lamb, pork, veal, and venison.
Certain Seafood and Shellfish: Some types are high in purines. Avoid anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, and trout. Limit mussels, scallops, crab, lobster, and shrimp.

Sugary Drinks and High-Fructose Foods

Fructose boosts uric acid production and hinders kidney excretion. Avoid sugary drinks like sodas and fruit juices with added sugar. Limit processed foods and pastries containing high-fructose corn syrup.

Alcohol

Alcohol increases uric acid production and reduces kidney excretion. Beer is particularly problematic due to its purine content and alcohol. Hard liquor also raises levels. Wine has less impact but should be consumed in moderation.

Processed and Refined Foods

These foods often lack nutrients and can promote inflammation and insulin resistance, negatively impacting uric acid control. Limit processed meats like sausage and bacon and refined carbohydrates such as white bread and sugary baked goods.

Comparison of High-Purine and Low-Purine Food Choices


Category	Foods to Avoid/Limit (High-Purine)	Recommended Foods (Low-Purine)
Meats	Organ meats (liver, kidneys), red meat (beef, lamb), game meat (venison)	Low-fat dairy, lean poultry, eggs (in moderation)
Seafood	Anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, scallops, trout, shrimp	Salmon, crab, lobster, oysters (limit intake to 4-6 oz per day)
Carbohydrates	Refined carbs (white bread, pasta), high GI foods (cakes, cookies)	Whole grains (oats, brown rice), potatoes, healthy pastas
Beverages	Beer, hard liquor, sugary sodas, fruit juices with added sugar	Water, unsweetened teas, coffee (in moderation), milk

Lifestyle Factors and Management

Beyond diet, lifestyle changes are vital for managing high uric acid. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Maintain a healthy weight gradually, as obesity increases uric acid. Limit or avoid alcohol. Consider incorporating Vitamin C-rich foods like cherries and oranges, which may help lower uric acid.

Conclusion

Effectively managing high uric acid levels involves a commitment to dietary and lifestyle adjustments. Prioritizing the avoidance of high-purine foods, limiting sugary drinks, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates, while staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy weight, are key strategies. These steps can significantly lower the risk of gout flares and protect long-term health. Consulting a healthcare provider for personalized guidance is recommended. For further details on diet and gout, the Arthritis Foundation is a reliable resource.

Frequently Asked Questions

While most vegetables are safe, some, like spinach, asparagus, cauliflower, and mushrooms, have moderate purine levels. Recent research suggests that these are not typically a significant concern and offer many health benefits, but for individuals sensitive to them, moderation may be advised.

For very high-purine foods like organ meats, complete avoidance is generally recommended. For moderate-purine foods, such as certain fish and red meat, moderation is key. A balanced, low-purine diet is often more beneficial than strict elimination.

Some studies suggest that drinking coffee may be associated with lower uric acid levels, though the mechanism is not fully understood. It can be a part of a balanced diet, but it should not be seen as a cure.

Low-fat dairy products, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt, are linked to a reduced risk of gout attacks and can help lower uric acid levels. Full-fat dairy is high in saturated fats and should be limited.

Beer and hard liquor are the worst offenders, as they significantly increase uric acid production and reduce its excretion. Moderate wine consumption is often less problematic but still should be approached with caution, especially during a flare-up.

Losing excess weight can help reduce uric acid levels, as fat cells produce more uric acid. However, it is important to lose weight gradually through a healthy diet and exercise, as rapid weight loss can sometimes trigger a gout attack.

Yes, several studies indicate that consuming cherries, either fresh or as unsweetened juice, can help lower uric acid levels and reduce the risk of gout attacks. They contain anti-inflammatory compounds that are beneficial.