What is hyperuricemia? A blood uric acid level of >416 μmol/L in men and >357 μmol/L in women is generally considered to be hyperuricemia. Excessive production and/or decreased excretion of uric acid in the body is the main cause of hyperuricemia. Some other medications such as diuretics, anti-tuberculosis drugs, tumors, and renal impairment can also cause secondary elevations in blood uric acid levels, and patients with elevated uric acid need to rule out these factors. What are the dangers of hyperuricemia? Who is prone to hyperuricemia? Hyperuricemia can not only evolve into gout leading to joint and kidney parenchymal damage, but is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is closely related to hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In general, people with obesity, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and elevated blood sugar are more likely to develop hyperuricemia. What dietary factors can increase blood uric acid levels? The foods that are known to significantly increase uric acid levels are seafood, beer and red meat (animal meat). This is due to the high purine content of seafood and brewer’s yeast. Red meat is due to its high saturated fatty acid content, which can cause insulin resistance, elevated LDL, and consequently elevated uric acid. What dietary factors will reduce blood uric acid levels? Currently, dairy in the diet, especially low-fat dairy, is considered beneficial for people with hyperuricemia. A 12-year study in the United States found that increasing dairy products, especially low-fat milk and low-fat cheese, in healthy people reduced uric acid levels. Drinking more than 2 glasses of milk a day reduced the incidence of gout by 50 percent. Milk is rich in comprehensive nutrients and easily absorbed by the body. For the Chinese, who are generally deficient in calcium, 1 to 2 cups of milk per day is necessary, and drinking low-fat milk is especially appropriate. Can people with hyperuricemia eat soy products? The usual nutritional view is that soy products can cause gout attacks. However, a Japanese scholar found that in healthy people and gout patients, tofu did not have a significant effect on serum uric acid levels in both groups, because most of the purines contained in tofu are lost during processing. Soy products are rich in vegetable protein, vitamin E, soy flavonoids, etc. Eating soy products (tofu, dried tofu, soy milk, etc.) in moderation is very beneficial to the human body and need not be strictly prohibited for people with gout and hyperuricemia. Can people with hyperuricemia eat coarse grains? The traditional view is that people with elevated uric acid need to use refined rice and noodles and avoid coarse grains with high purine content. However, this view is not supported by evidence. On the contrary, some scholars have shown significant improvement in the occurrence of gout in gout patients who were given dietary guidelines that did not strictly restrict purines, including coarse grains. Coarse grains are rich in dietary fiber and can improve insulin resistance. People with hyperuricemia are and do not have to be strictly prohibited. Can people with hyperuricemia eat mushrooms? Mushrooms contain a certain amount of purines, but they are not a food with a high purine content. The polysaccharides in mushrooms are good for cardiovascular diseases. You can blanch mushrooms and other vegetables that have purines and then cook and eat them. Can people with hyperuricemia drink alcohol? Beer yeast is rich in guanine, which is easily absorbed into the bloodstream, while alcohol reduces uric acid excretion, and the combined effect of the two increases blood uric acid. Red wine contains many antioxidants, polyphenols, etc., which can reduce oxidative damage to the body and reduce the adverse effects of alcohol on uric acid metabolism. Drinking red wine in moderation (50-100ml per day) will not increase blood uric acid. How much water do people with hyperuricemia drink? Uric acid is excreted through the kidneys, so drinking more water will facilitate the excretion of uric acid from the body. It is usually recommended that people with hyperuricemia consume 8-10 glasses of water per day, no less than 2000ml. How to choose drinks for people with hyperuricemia? Although soft drinks are low in purines, they contain a lot of fructose, which, unlike glucose and other sugars, can increase uric acid. A study conducted at Boston Medical School in the United States over a 22-year follow-up period (1984-2006) showed that drinking fructose-rich beverages such as sugary soda and orange juice increased uric acid concentrations in the blood and increased the risk of gout in women. The consumption of sugar-free soft drinks does not increase the risk of gout. Therefore, people with hyperuricemia need to reduce sugary drinks. How do people with hyperuricemia cook high purine foods? Purines are easily soluble in water, so when cooking foods with high purine content, you can blanch them first and then cook them, steam, boil or stew them, and avoid animal food soups (broth, hot pot soup, etc.). Can people with hyperuricemia eat fruit? Although fruits mainly contain fructose, which raises uric acid, they are also rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants such as carotenoids. There is no evidence to support the idea that eating more fruit can cause uric acid to rise. Some studies suggest that cherry consumption may have a protective effect on those with high uric acid and gout. People with hyperuricemia can eat fruit just as well as normal people.