Can gout patients eat river crabs and river shrimp?
Generally, patients with gout should not eat river crabs or freshwater shrimp. The specific reasons are as follows:
Gout is a condition caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood, leading to the formation and deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints. Purines are the primary source of uric acid in the body, and foods high in purines can be metabolized into large amounts of uric acid, thereby worsening gout symptoms. Both river crabs and freshwater shrimp are high-purine foods. Consuming them can easily cause a rapid increase in blood uric acid levels, triggering or exacerbating gout attacks. Therefore, gout patients should avoid eating high-purine foods, including river crabs and freshwater shrimp.
Gout patients should choose low-purine foods in their diet, such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. These foods contain low levels of purines and help control uric acid levels in the body. Patients should also limit alcohol consumption and drink plenty of water. Alcohol metabolism produces substances that inhibit uric acid excretion, thus aggravating gout symptoms, whereas drinking sufficient water helps promote uric acid excretion and lower blood uric acid levels.