Gout is a painful condition that is caused by a build up of uric acid crystals in joints. In most cases, this will happen in the big toe, or between the big toe and the one next to it. The overabundance of this uric acid will crystallize and settle in that joint and be pretty painful. Though gout is mostly a problem that men face, women develop gout on occasion. It is like arthritis in nature, but it can be very easy to treat with the right diet and certain medications. It’s a great idea for anyone with this condition to watch what he or she eats. Knowing what foods to avoid with gout will help greatly when you are eating out in a restaurant.

The foods that seem to irritate those with gout the most are those high in purines. These compounds are found in the human body, and in many different foods making them hard to avoid at times. So, when suffering from gout you need to be careful about the types of foods that you chose. Some of these purines won’t bother a person, but for others it leads to pain, and extreme pain at times. Knowing which foods to pass up can help you avoid the very painful episodes of gout that can leave you feeling incapacitated.

Some of the biggest problems for those with gout seem to come from eating meats and seafood. That is not good news for many, but avoiding these two food groups can help keep the pain down to a minimum. It is suggested that meat consumption be limited to six ounces a day and replacing proteins with eggs, and low fat milk foods as these are low in purines.

Some foods that are high in purines are okay to eat in moderation, for example peas, mushrooms, and beans. You shouldn’t eat huge quantities but you don’t have to limit them as much as you should limit meats and seafood.

Fats too must be limited, and foods fried in oils are never a good idea. Coffee and tea seem to be okay, but alcohol is not. When you add all of this together, eating at home can get complicated, but eating out can be even worse.

When you look through a menu, you may find that you don’t know what to get and what you should skip. The trick is to know what is in a dish, and also, how it is prepared. As someone who suffers with gout you may have to learn how to take the things you’ve learned at home and use them when ordering in a restaurant.

Someone with gout is going to have a hard time choosing something off a menu to eat, though this does depend on where this person is eating. It is always a good idea to ask how a dish is prepared, and ask for modifications to suit your gout friendly style of eating.

Most restaurants these days are very good at altering dishes to help those who might be dieting or who have specific medical conditions. Ask for the leaner varieties of your favorite dishes. Knowing what foods to avoid with gout will make it much easier to choose meals that are tasty to eat without causing you a painful gout flare-up. With the right modifications and knowing which foods to avoid with gout, a meal in a restaurant does not have to lead to pain and discomfort.