Can patients with gout eat prawns and watermelon?
Feb 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, gout patients are not advised to eat whiteleg shrimp, but they can consume watermelon in moderation. Whiteleg shrimp contains high levels of purines, so gout patients should generally avoid eating it to prevent an increase in blood uric acid levels and subsequent acute gout attacks. Watermelon, on the other hand, is a low-purine food rich in water and vitamins. Eating it in moderation can help promote uric acid excretion and reduce uric acid levels.
Generally, patients with gout are not advised to eat shrimp, but they can consume watermelon in moderation. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Gout is caused by a disorder in purine metabolism in the body, which leads to excessively high levels of uric acid in the blood. Patients with this condition should avoid foods high in purines. Since shrimp contains high levels of purines, patients with gout should generally avoid consuming shrimp to prevent an increase in blood uric acid levels and subsequent acute gout attacks.
Watermelon, on the other hand, is a low-purine food rich in water and vitamins. Whether during the remission phase of the disease or when uric acid levels are not well-controlled, moderate consumption of watermelon will not trigger a gout attack. Moreover, the high water content in watermelon helps increase urine output, promoting the excretion of uric acid and aiding in the management of gout and reduction of uric acid levels.
In daily life, gout patients should maintain healthy lifestyle habits and follow a balanced diet primarily consisting of low-purine foods, which is beneficial for managing and preventing gout.
