According to the Journal of Food Biochemistry (2024), researchers at Kyoto University (Japan) discovered that sweet potato leaves and tubers contain high levels of polyphenols, flavonoids and soluble fiber, which help inhibit the enzyme xanthine oxidase, an enzyme involved in the formation of uric acid in the body. Thanks to that, adding this food to your diet can help reduce the production of endogenous uric acid naturally.
Ms. Sarah Mitchell, a clinical nutritionist at the US National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), said: "Some vegetables are mildly alkaline such as sweet potatoes, celery, squash... help balance blood pH, thereby reducing the accumulation of urate crystals in the joints, causing swelling and pain in people with gout".
In addition, fiber in sweet potato leaves also helps regulate blood sugar and blood lipids, indirectly improving liver and kidney function, two organs responsible for removing uric acid from the body.
Experts recommend boiling thoroughly or steaming before eating to remove natural oxalate crystals, avoid itching or skin irritation. Gout patients can eat 2-3 times/week, combined with a low purine diet (restricting red meat, organs, alcohol) and drinking enough 2-2.5 liters of water per day to support detoxification.
Incorporating sweet potato leaves into your diet is a simple, natural solution that is significantly effective for those who want to control uric acid and prevent gout from recurring.
