Can patients with gout eat spinach?
Disease description:
I have recently developed a strong liking for spinach, finding it quite delicious. However, my gout has flared up in the past few days. I would like to ask, can patients with gout eat spinach?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Gout patients can eat spinach, but should pay attention to moderation and cooking methods. Spinach is a low-purine food, containing approximately 13.3 mg of purines per 100 grams, which is far below the threshold for high-purine foods. Therefore, moderate consumption will not cause fluctuations or increases in blood uric acid levels, triggering or worsening gout. In addition, spinach is rich in protein, minerals, dietary fiber, and vitamins, which are beneficial for gout patients. Spinach also contains oxalic acid, which can easily combine with calcium to form calcium oxalate, potentially affecting calcium absorption and increasing the risk of kidney stones. To reduce oxalic acid content, it is recommended that gout patients blanch spinach in water before cooking, which significantly lowers the oxalic acid level while preserving its nutritional components.
