Can Eating Too Much Fruit Cause Gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis that happens when excess uric acid, a substance your body produces while digesting substances called purines, forms crystals in a single joint. An estimated 2 to 5 million Americans have it, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, namely men and postmenopausal women. Although foods do not cause gout, certain varieties and eating habits might exacerbate your symptoms. Gaining understanding regarding the effects fruit might have on your symptoms might inspire you to make wise dietary decisions.

Benefits

Along with vegetables, fruits are top sources of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, which support your body's ability to resist and heal from infections and disease. As water and fiber-rich foods that contain relatively few calories, fruit might enhance a sense of fullness between meals and allow you to eat more food volume while staying within your caloric needs. Appetite control and weight management are important, because added pounds can increase joint pain and inflammation.

Potential Risks

Gout & Diet Soda

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Certain fruits and juices are particularly rich in fructose -- a naturally-occurring form of sugar. A correlation has been found between fructose-rich diets and gout symptoms, according to the Gout and Uric Acid Education Society 1. In other words, eating excessive amounts of fructose-rich fruits, such as:

• dried fruits
  
• apples
  
• peaches
  
• cherries
  
• plums
  
• prunes
  
• grapes
  
• pears
  
• or juices might trigger or worsen gout flare-ups

Research

In a study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" in 2010, researchers analyzed the intake of fructose-rich beverages and gout symptoms among 78,906 women with no history of the disease over the course of 22 years. Women who consumed fructose-rich beverages, such as orange juice, regularly, were significantly more likely to experience gout symptoms than women who did not.

Suggestions

Foods That Cause Tendonitis

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To prevent fructose-related flareups, choose whole, fresh fruits over juices and dried fruit, and consume fructose-rich fresh fruits in moderation. Fruits less likely to worsen your symptoms include bananas, citrus fruits, melons, kiwi and blueberries.