Short Answer: Chinese food is bad for gout. Because it has high-purine ingredients, such as meat, seafood, soy sauce, and MSG, and they can increase your uric acid levels and trigger gout attacks.
Gout is a condition that affects your joints, especially the big toe.
In gout, your body produces too much uric acid, which forms sharp crystals in your joints.
This can lead to various health problems, such as inflammation, pain, swelling, and kidney stones.
One of the key factors in managing gout is diet.
What you consume can affect your uric acid levels, which can impact your gout symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage gout, you should consume low-purine foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, and avoid high-purine foods like red meat, organ meat, seafood, alcohol, and sugary drinks.
Now, Chinese food is a broad term that refers to the cuisine of China and its people around the world.
People usually eat Chinese food with rice, noodles, or steamed buns, and use various sauces, spices, and cooking methods.
Chinese food is bad for gout because it contains high-purine ingredients, such as meat, seafood, soy sauce, and MSG.
These ingredients can raise your uric acid levels and trigger gout attacks.
One cup of Chinese food can give you about 20% of your daily purine needs, depending on the dish and the ingredients.
Meat can increase your uric acid production and worsen your gout.
Seafood can also raise your uric acid levels and cause gout flares.
Soy sauce can contain MSG, which can stimulate your cells to release more uric acid.
MSG can also cause other side effects, such as headaches, nausea, and thirst.
Furthermore, Chinese food is a high-sodium food, and sodium is bad for gout.
Because, sodium can increase your blood pressure, which can impair your kidney function and reduce your uric acid excretion.
That’s why I suggest you limit your Chinese food intake to prevent gout attacks and complications.
Stick to one serving or less per week, and choose dishes that are low in purine, such as vegetable stir-fries, tofu, or egg drop soup.
Avoid dishes that are high in purine, such as beef and broccoli, kung pao chicken, or hot pot.
Also, you shouldn’t eat Chinese food if you have a gout attack or a high uric acid level, to prevent worsening your condition.
Because, Chinese food can aggravate your inflammation and pain, and delay your recovery.
You can buy fresh Chinese food in your local market or can order it from online.
Always choose dishes that are made with fresh ingredients, and avoid dishes that are deep-fried, oily, or salty.
Because, fresh ingredients can provide you with more nutrients and antioxidants, and less calories and fat.
You can store them in the refrigerator for up to three days, or in the freezer for up to three months.
Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and essential medical care, is key to managing gout effectively.
I always recommend my gout patients to follow a gout-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.