Is Broccoli Good for Gout

Broccoli can be part of a gout-friendly diet. It is low in uric acid and purines while containing beneficial compounds. A doctor may recommend additional foods for gout prevention.
Gout is a painful form of arthritis that you can often manage by watching your diet.
Diet goals for gout include avoiding foods high in uric acid because eating these foods can worsen symptoms.

Fortunately, there’s lots of healthy and delicious foods out there that are low in uric acid. Broccoli is one of them. Here’s why broccoli is a good option for people living with gout.

Why broccoli is good for gout
Broccoli has a lot of things going for it when it comes to gout prevention:
• Low in purines. Purines are a precursor to uric acid that can contribute to gout. In a 2014 study on the amount of purines in foods, broccoli had about 70 milligrams (mg) of purines per 100 grams (g). The study’s authors placed broccoli in the low purines group — very high purine foods have more than 300 mg per 100 g. This means broccoli is a good choice for those with gout (and for most people trying to eat a healthy diet).

• High in vitamin C. Eating foods high in vitamin C can help reduce gout attacks, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Vitamin C helps to reduce uric acid levels in the body.
• High antioxidant activity. Broccoli contains many antioxidant compounds (inflammation fighters). A healthy diet that contains broccoli could help fight many chronic diseases, including gout, according to 2015 researchTrusted Source.
Whether you prefer the stems or the florets, all broccoli parts contain nutritious compounds that are beneficial for those with gout. You can serve broccoli on its own or add it to omelets, casseroles, stir-fry’s, or other dishes.

How food affects gout
Gout is the result of a condition doctors call hyperuricemia. This is when you have too much uric acid present in your body. The excess uric acid starts to collect in your joints, tissues, and body fluids. As a result, some people develop gout symptoms.
The body breaks down purines from foods into uric acid. While your diet isn’t the only factor that increases the risk for gout, it’s one you can easily change.

Other risk factors for gout include:
• being male
• obesity
• having chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, poor kidney function, or congestive heart failure
• taking medications known to increase purines, such as diuretics that reduce the amount of water in the body
Preventing future gout attacks often requires a combination of lifestyle changes and sometimes medications. If you aren’t sure where to start, making dietary changes and talking to your doctor can help.