Natural Ways to Reduce Uric Acid in the Body

Certain health conditions, diet, and genetics can cause high levels of uric acid. Avoiding alcohol and limiting some foods may help lower levels.
Uric acid is a natural waste product caused by the digestion of foods containing purines. Purines are found in high levels in some foods and are formed and broken down in your body.
Usually, your body filters out uric acid through your kidneys and in urine. If you consume too much purine or if your body is unable to remove this by-product quickly enough, uric acid can build up in your blood.

A standard uric acid level is under 6.8 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)Trusted Source. A high uric acid level (above 6.8 mg/dL) is considered hyperuricemia. This can lead to gout and make your blood and urine too acidic.
Learn about conditions and factors that can cause uric acid to collect in your body, and read on to learn how you can lower uric acid levels in your body naturally.

Limit purine-rich foods
You can limit the source of uric acid. Purine-rich foods include some meats, seafood, and vegetables. All of these foods contribute to uric acid when digested.

Avoid or reduce your intake of purine-rich foods, such as:
• red meat
• organ meats
• fish
• poultry

A 2020 studyTrusted Source suggests that reducing your intake of purine-rich vegetables may not affect uric acid levels.
Avoid sugar
Fructose is a natural sugar in fruit and honey. As your body breaks down fructose, it releasesTrusted Source purines and increases uric acid levels.
Note that fructose in beverages is absorbed quicker than sugars in whole foods because beverages don’t contain fiber, protein, or other nutrients.

Here are some steps to lower the amount of sugar you consume:
• Eat more whole foods.
• Limit processed, packaged foods.
• Check food labels for added sugars.
• Quench sugar cravings with fresh fruit.
• Replace sugary drinks with water, unsweetened drinks, or coffee without sugar.

Drink more water
Drinking plenty of fluids helps your kidneys flush out uric acid faster. The kidneys filter out about 70%Trusted Source of the uric acid in your
body.
Drinking enough water can help support your kidneys and may reduce your risk of uric acid kidney stones.

Drink coffee
Research from 2016Trusted Source shows that coffee may help reduce serum uric acid levels in two main ways:
• It competes with the enzyme that breaks down purines in the body, lowering the uric acid production
rate.
• It increases the rate at which your body excretes uric acid.
Manage weight
Manage blood sugar
Add more fiber to your diet
Boost vitamin C intake