Can patients with high uric acid levels eat crayfish?
Generally, patients with high uric acid levels are not advised to consume crawfish. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Crawfish are considered to be moderate- to high-purine foods. Excessive intake of purines can worsen purine metabolism disorders in patients with elevated uric acid, leading to further increases in uric acid levels. This may trigger gout attacks and impose additional strain on the kidneys, hindering disease recovery. Common cooking methods for crawfish, such as spicy or deep-fried preparations, may contain seasonings that irritate the gastrointestinal tract, interfere with uric acid excretion, and high-fat cooking methods can increase the body's burden.
Due to difficulties in thoroughly cleaning crawfish during preparation, there may be risks of parasites and microorganisms, which could negatively affect individuals with high uric acid levels. If patients strongly desire to eat crawfish, it is recommended to choose lighter cooking methods such as steaming or making soup, avoiding high-fat methods like frying or barbecuing, to minimize adverse effects on the body. Pairing crawfish with low-purine vegetables such as celery and carrots can help reduce overall purine intake.
Patients with high uric acid levels are advised to consume more low-purine foods such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, and dairy products, while avoiding high-purine foods like animal offal, red meat, and seafood. Drinking plenty of water regularly and increasing urination frequency can help promote uric acid excretion. Additionally, uric acid-lowering medications such as febuxostat tablets or allopurinol tablets should be taken regularly as advised by a physician to control uric acid levels.