8 Facts About Uric Acid

According to webmd.com, uric acid is a waste byproduct. It’s formed when your body breaks down purines, which are found in some foods such as certain meats, sardines and dried beans.

Normally your body filters out uric acid through your kidneys and in urine. If you consume too much purine in your diet, or if your body can’t get rid of this byproduct fast enough, uric acid can build up in your blood.

When there is too much uric acid in your body, your pH balance moves to the “acidic” side of the scale.

When this happens, you develop problems like gout, arthritis, kidney stones, and general joint pain. 

Here are 8 facts about uric acid that you should know:

1.  Uric acid can collect in your body for many reasons. Some of these are diet, genetics, obesity or being overweight and stress.

2. Certain health disorders can also lead to high uric acid levels such as kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, some types of cancers or chemotherapy and psoriasis.

3. You can limit the source of uric acid in your diet. Purine-rich foods include some types of meat, seafood, and vegetables. All of these foods give off uric acid when they’re digested.

4. You can also avoid or reduce your intake of foods such as organ meats, pork, turkey, fish and shellfish, scallops, mutton, veal, cauliflower, green peas, dried beans and mushrooms

5. Drink more water because drinking plenty of fluids helps your kidneys flush out uric acid faster.

6.  Eating more fiber will help your body get rid of uric acid.

7.  Get more vitamin C.  Medical research shows that vitamin C can help your body get rid of uric acid. It may also help reduce inflammation.

8.  Check your medications and supplements because some medications and supplements can also cause uric acid to build up in the blood. These include aspirin, vitamin B-3 (niacin), diuretics, immune suppressing drugs and chemotherapy drugs.

Source: healthline.com