Can shrimp and beer be consumed together?

Generally speaking, shrimp and beer should not be consumed together. The analysis is as follows:

Shrimp is a high-protein food rich in purines, which are metabolized into uric acid within the human body. Beer contains alcohol and large amounts of guanosine monophosphate. When alcohol enters the body, it interferes with the normal excretion of uric acid. On one hand, it inhibits the secretion of uric acid by the kidneys, reducing its excretion; on the other hand, alcohol metabolism produces lactic acid, which competes with uric acid for excretion pathways, further impeding its removal from the body. Consuming large amounts of shrimp and drinking beer simultaneously can significantly increase uric acid production while decreasing its excretion, leading to a sharp rise in uric acid levels in the body.

When uric acid levels persistently increase beyond the body's normal solubility limit, urate crystals may deposit in areas such as the joints and kidneys. Deposition in the joints can trigger gouty arthritis, causing redness, swelling, pain, and fever in the joints, severely affecting joint mobility and causing significant discomfort to the patient. If urate crystals deposit in the kidneys, they may lead to kidney stones, gouty kidney disease, and other conditions, damaging kidney function, and in severe cases, leading to kidney failure.

In daily life, it is advisable to avoid consuming large quantities of shrimp and beer together. This is especially important for individuals with existing hyperuricemia, a history of gout, or a family genetic predisposition to these conditions, who should strictly avoid such dietary combinations.