Gout is is an inflammation characterized with severe pains in the joints like the big toe and the knee.
It is commonly seen among the middle aged and older men as well as the menopausal women.
Gout is believed to be caused by high level of uric acid in the blood and formation of the sodium salt of uric acid in the joints, cartilage, and kidneys (1).
Furthermore, gout may result due to complications of other disease conditions such as unmanaged Diabetes, which can hinder excretion of uric acid.
Surprisingly, about 8.3 million people in the United States have gout (6.1 million men and 2.2 million women).
Limiting intake of some foods, taking conventional medicines, and lifestyle changes are observed to control gout development in human body.
Ghanaian Diet you should avoid for Gout disease
1. Prawn Soup
However you like eating Okra soup made with prawn, bear in mind that there’s abundance of prawn in it, a sea food loaded with purine. Purine obtained from prawn is broken down into uric acid, a primary causes of gout disease. Adapting low purine diet is recommended for prevention and treatment of gout disease.
Therefore, go for low sea food if you’ve gout problem.
2. Tubaani
Tubaani is a protein rich foods commonly eaten in the Northern part of Ghana. Do not forget that purine is a component of protein. Numerous studies have depicted that regular or excessive consumption proteineous food foster formation of uric acid in the body.
3. Tuo Zaafi or Millet Soup
This is a delicious meals to have on your food menu plan, but you should be mindful of the meat portion size.
High intake of proteineous food especially, meat has been associated with increase in the body’s purine levels.
Whereas low consumption of meat and seafood in gout patient have shown a promising effect in the treatment of gout disease.
4. Angwa Mo or Angwamu
Among the ingredients used in preparing this meal is fried egg, meat, oil, and rice. To keep gout at bay, minimise how you add egg, meat in your food. If you eat this food, purine is formed in your body, which will lead to inflammation of the joints, toes and pains.
5. Pepper Soup
In the medical line, low purine diets are advised to be taking regular for gout patient. Despite the taste, satisfaction you derived from Ghanaian traditional food, some soup are packed with organ meat. When this food is digested, it deposit uric acid in your body which contributes to symptoms linked to gout disease.
6. Weight reduction
Weight reduction is very essential in gout treatment. It does not only help you slow down purine content in your body but also considered as the best approach in maintaining overall well-being of the body.
Low purine diet to taking
Studies have linked regular consumption of high purine diet with the development of gout among the population.
Low purine foods
Nuts
legumes,
Fruit,
Whole grains,
Vegetables (excluding asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, mushrooms, and green peas).
Conclusion
Gout disease comes with different symptoms that are very annoying.
It’s formed in human body as a result of high uric acid in the blood as well as accumulate of calcium salt. Though other factors like unmanaged diabetes, can also cause gout disease as it impede sufficient excretion of uric acid out of the blood.
However, Ghanaian diet you should avoid for Gout disease includes, pepper soups, Angwamu, prawn Soup, Tuo Zaafi among others.
Talk to a dietitians, if you’re prone to gout disease.