According to the American Association of Rheumatologists, maintaining a uric acid level below 6 mg/dl can help reduce the risk of gout. To reach this level, patients should limit foods and drinks rich in purines such as beer and strong alcohol, because purines when entering the body will convert into uric acid.
People with gout should avoid foods and drinks with added sugar, especially corn syrup rich in fructose - a component commonly found in soft drinks and processed foods. Sugary drinks and artificial sweeteners not only increase uric acid but also harm joints more.
When fructose is metabolized in the body, it will release purines, causing uric acid levels to increase rapidly after drinking soft drinks or eating foods containing a lot of fructose corn syrup. This can trigger a painful acute gout attack. Therefore, patients should limit sugary soda and processed foods.
Not only affecting gout, corn syrup rich in fructose is also particularly disadvantageous for people with diabetes. Consuming too much can lead to insulin resistance. Patients should prioritize drinking filtered water instead of soft drinks, and use sugar substitutes when drinking tea and coffee.
