Uric acid is a corbonic compound naturally found in blood. Everybody has uric acid present in small amount. It is in fact the waste product results from normal cell dying during metabolism.The substance that is responsible to form uric acid is purine. It is a colourless, crystalline organic compound with basic properties of forming uric acid on oxidation.It is also absorbed from purine contained foods such red meat, beef, chicken, cauliflower etc.

Effects

Blood carries approximately 70% of uric acid through the kidneys and eventually it is disposed of through urination. In fact, uric acid is very important to humans on chemical grounds as it is a strong electron donor as well as powerful antioxidant. It is importantly responsible for providing antioxidant ability to blood plasma. While our body needs uric acid for healthy blood vessels and other processes, at the same time excess uric acid leads to various diseases such as gout, diabetes, Kidney stones and cardiovascular diseases.

Gouts

It is a form of arthritis. It is extremely painful not less than a fracture of long bone. It is caused by accumulation of sodium urate crystals in the joints. These crystals are formed when the amount of uric acid in the  body reaches an abnormally higher level. Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and passes through the kidneys into the urine. But when the production of uric acid is more,then kidneys do away with it and as a result this elevated level of uric acid known as hyperuricemia gets stored in the body for longer time. After reaching to a very high extent it crystallizes and gets accumulated in the joints. This gives painful attack of gout. Areas affected by gout are base of the big toe, ankles,knees, wrist, fingers and elbows.

Symptoms of gout: Rapid onset of pain in the affected joint followed by warmth, swelling, reddish discoloration and marked tenderness associated with fever that subsides after one or two days even without medication.

Cardiovascular Diseases

Any disease that affects cardiovascular system is called as cardiovascular disease. Heart and blood vessels are the organs of cardiovascular system. These diseases may lead to problems such as heart-attack, ischemic strokes(happens when vessels that feed the brain gets blocked usually by blood clot, resulting in brain failure or haemorrhage), and artheroscelorosis. Artheroscelorosis is the condition that develops when plaque builds up in the arteries. this build-up narrows the arteries making it harder for blood to flow through. The blood clot obstacles the blood flow resulting in a heart-attack.

Symptoms: Undue fatigue, chest pain,palpitation and dyspnea (difficult and laboured breathing).

Kidney Stones

Kidneys stone is a hard stone like mineral material formed in kidneys or urinary tract. It is formed when there is excess of stone forming substance in urine. There are other reasons also such as family history of kidneys stones, prolong medication etc.

Symptoms: Severe flank pain and blood in urine (hematuria).

Uric acid is not the only cause of these diseases but of course, it is one of the causes. Purines consumed in diet accounts about 50 percent of the uric acid produced in the body. Therefore, avoiding foods high in purines following a modified purine diet may help improve uric acid levels.Below is the list of purine high foods that are to be avoided.

1. Anchovies
2. Fish
3. Liver, calfs
4. Ox spleen
5. Theobromine
6. Yeast
7. Cauliflower
8. Spinach
9. Shellfish
10. calf tongue
11. Organ meat such as liver, kidney, heart etc.

Low purine foods that are to be added in your diet are:

1. Eggs
2. Nuts
3. Low fat and fat free cheese and ice-creams
4. Rice
5. coffee
6. Tea
7. Soda
8. Pasta and macaroni etc

Guide lines to maintain Uric Acid level

1. Get your uric acid test done regularly
2. Drink plenty of water a day; 8 to 10 glasses.
3. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
4. Restrict foods high in purine
5. Avoid alcohol and processed food.
6. Check your weight, as being overweight appears to be the most common factor for excess uric acid production.
7. Consider the calorific diet that do not contain purine.
8. Avoid fatty food such as butter and cream.

Recommended Foods to Eat

• Fresh cherries, strawberries,and blueberries.
• Bananas
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Vegetables including cabbage and parsley.
• Foods high in bromelain (pine apple)
• Foods high in vitamin C (red cabbage, red bell peppers, tangerines, mandarins, oranges, potatoes.
• Complex carbohydrates (breads, cereals).

Purines are found in many foods. It is important to understand how the source foods affect the body. For instance purines found in vegetable sources don't form the same build-up of uric acid in the body that meat sources do. Fresh fruits and vegetables reduce acid levels in the body and it is often advised to avoid red meats organ meats and processed foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables increase the alkalinity in the blood and are found in foods that are free of purines and uric acid. It is important to know which vegetable helps to increase the body's alkalinity,which naturally reduces the body's acidity and that has to be on your menu chart. Losing excess weight and maintaining normal weight is also essential as when we lose excess weight the kidneys are more able to elimate uric acid and production of uric acid by the liver is also reduced. 

• Written by Amit Mitra.
• In category Diseases.
• 11 years ago.

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