A type of painful arthritis accompanied by inflammation and tenderness in the joints, gout develops due to excess uric acid in the bloodstream. This can be because of overproduction of uric acid or inefficient elimination by the kidneys. This leads to uric acid crystallizing in the joints and causing severe pain. While the big toe is mostly affected by gout, other joints like the ankles, knees, fingers, elbows, and wrists can also swell up and cause pain. While certain foods can help alleviate the symptoms, here’s a list of eight foods for people wondering what not to eat when suffering from gout:

• Alcohol
  All types of alcohol are harmful to people with gout, but beer is the worst. It increases the uric acid levels in the body and makes it difficult for the kidneys to eliminate it from the system. It’s best for gout patients to abstain from all alcoholic beverages.
• Red meat
  Red meat has more purine than white meat, so it’s advisable to eliminate them from a gout-friendly diet. A rare indulgence in beef or pork might be acceptable more than a dish made with lamb, turkey, or chicken breast, as they are all rich in purines. Wild game meat like pheasant, goose, veal, and venison also have more purines than most other kinds of meat. An ideal gout-friendly diet should not include any red meat, especially during a flare-up.
• Liver
  Not just liver, other organ meats like the brain, sweetbread, and kidneys must also be held-off from a gout-friendly diet. These are rich in purines and can increase uric acid levels in the body, causing painful and inflammatory symptoms.
• Seafood
  People with gout should avoid eating seafood, as many types are rich in purines, which is broken down into uric acid and worsens gout. So, one should stay away from seafood like prawn, anchovies, sardines, herring, mackerel, prawn, scallops, and mussels, even when one is in remission.
• Soft drinks
  All soft drinks with sugar and high fructose corn syrup are harmful to people with gout. Apart from causing unhealthy weight gain, sugary drinks stimulate the excess production of uric acid in the body. Consuming high quantities of sodas, energy drinks, and other sugary beverages can increase the risk of gout or worsen the condition if it already exists.
• Cauliflower
  Cauliflower and a few other vegetables like spinach, mushroom, asparagus, and peas are rich in purines. Although their impact on gout is not as harmful as meat and purine from plant sources can be eliminated easily than from meat sources, it’s best to restrict them from the diet.
• Oats
  If wondering what not to eat when suffering from gout, oats are on the top of the list. While they are a healthy breakfast option for people with chronic illnesses like coronary artery disease, obesity, blood pressure, or colorectal cancer, it’s advisable for people with gout to stay away from them. Oats contain purine, and even though it is not as high as in seafood or alcohol, it certainly has the potential to elevate the risk of a flare-up.