When summer is in full swing, the holidays begin, the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be easing, it is harder for us to think about preventive health care and prioritize it during the holiday season. Meanwhile, right now, when we are dealing with a pandemic thaw, we should especially focus on rebuilding our health after the time of limited access to health services. Summer weather is also conducive to changing your lifestyle.
We have access to fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits, and the weather encourages greater physical activity. People with chronic conditions should, however, be aware of certain dietary limitations. It does not have to mean giving up tasty dishes in the summer. What should people with high uric acid levels pay attention to?
Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism. Purines are chemicals found in protein-rich foods, especially meat, meat stocks and offal. Purines are found in many foods that we eat, so it is virtually impossible to eliminate them completely from the daily diet. It is also not necessary – the permissible amount of purines does not pose a threat to health, because in the form of uric acid, they are excreted from the body.
The problem arises when the balance between the amount of uric acid produced and excreted is disturbed. A condition in which the body has an excess of uric acid due to impaired metabolism of the purines consumed is hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia is closely related to many civilization diseases, including heart disease or diabetes. It is an increasingly common phenomenon – in Poland, this problem may affect up to 10 million patients. Nevertheless, many people are still unaware that elevated uric acid levels can have serious health consequences and can affect anyone – even young people.
Hyperuricemia is primarily associated with gout or gout. However, it is now known that high uric acid levels can also be a marker of many cardiovascular disorders, and that gout is a symptom of excess uric acid. High uric acid concentration is directly related to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, as well as to their unfavorable course and worse prognosis.
The key to fighting hyperuricemia is regularly testing uric acid levels, at least once a year, and adjusting your treatment to current levels. From July 1, as part of the government program Prevention 40+, it will be possible to perform preventive examinations as part of a free package, including uric acid testing. Importantly, anyone over 40 will be able to do the test without a referral, because the e-referral will be visible in the system.
Diet is the second tool to counteract the effects of hyperuricemia.
Low purine and low morphine diet – what does that mean?
Diet in hyperuricemia has both preventive and therapeutic functions. In cases where uric acid levels are slightly elevated, changing the diet as recommended for the management of hyperuricaemia is sometimes sufficient to control the condition. So – what can you eat and what is on the blacklist? – In hyperuricemia, follow a low-purine diet, i.e. avoid products rich in purines, limit meat to 50g a day, exclude offal, meat jelly, seafood, and low-fructose, so exclude sweets, high-fructose fruit, fruit juices, sweet drinks. It is absolutely necessary to eliminate alcohol, beer is especially dangerous. The menu should be based mainly on vegetables, low-fat dairy products, cereal products and eggs – lists Martyna Pietarciek, dietitian who provides free online advice as part of the educational campaign We Reduce Uric Acid. – The summer season, and with it common grilling, are not conducive to compliance with the dietary recommendations of people with hyperuricemia. It is worth considering an alternative to grilled dishes – so that it is both tasty and healthy.
In summer, we eagerly reach for seasonal fruits and vegetables – are they recommended in the diet of people with hyperuricemia? It turns out that it is possible, but in moderation. – Fruit abundant in summer, such as strawberries and blueberries, are allowed in the diet of people with increased uric acid levels, but you should pay attention to the portions and not exceed 100-150 g per day. Most citrus and vitamin C-rich fruits, such as rosehips, are also allowed because vitamin C has uric acid-lowering properties. When it comes to vegetables, the diet of people with hyperuricemia may include, for example, cucumbers, zucchini, radishes, lamb’s lettuce – explains Pietarciek.
However, it should be remembered that even the most restrictive diet can reduce uric acid levels by a maximum of 10-15 percent. Therefore, in order to avoid complications of hyperuricemia, in people whose uric acid concentration exceeds 5 mg / dl, it is very often necessary to implement pharmacological treatment.
When uric acid endangers the heart
Hyperuricemia is an insidious disease. A patient with elevated uric acid levels may not feel any discomfort because of this. Often, hyperuricemia is diagnosed only when the patient is admitted to the hospital with complications, such as heart attack, stroke, severe hypertension or advanced diabetes. – Early knowledge about exceeding the norms of uric acid concentration allows for a quick reaction and implementation of appropriate measures, before the disease develops asymptomatically to an advanced stage.
Those who have never tested uric acid levels before should do so no later than around the age of 40. People at risk, whose close relatives have suffered from cardiovascular diseases, should start testing earlier, at the age of 30 – emphasizes Dr. . n. med. Marcin Barylski, assistant professor at the Department of Internal Diseases and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz. – Hyperuricemia promotes the formation of atherosclerotic lesions and causes chronic inflammation and vascular damage, thereby increasing the risk of developing chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The most dangerous complications of hyperuricemia and, consequently, cardiovascular diseases are i.a. heart attack, stroke or worsening heart failure.
Hyperuricemia requires a lot of mobilization from a patient who wants to avoid complications from the circulatory system and reduce the risk of developing gout or diabetes. Regular uric acid tests in conjunction with a proper diet and treatment under medical supervision allow you to control the disease. Dietary restrictions in the diet of people with elevated uric acid levels do not necessarily preclude the pleasure of eating and preparing food. Knowing what products are indicated in hyperuricemia and which should be avoided, you can freely compose wholesome meals. It was proved by Jan Paszkowski – participant of the XNUMXst edition of the Masterchef program in Poland. His suggestions for a summer menu for people with hyperuricemia can be found in the links below. Bon Appetit!