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Food and drink
- drink plenty of water
- cut down on alcohol, especially beer and spirits, and have several alcohol-free days a week
- avoid sugary drinks and drinks sweetened with fructose
- eat less red meat, offal (such as liver and kidneys), and some seafood such as sardines, mussels and anchovies
- low fat dairy foods may help lower urate
A strict diet is not needed, and diet alone rarely controls gout.
Weight and exercise
Losing weight slowly, if you are overweight, can lower urate. Avoid crash diets, which can trigger flares.
Have a flare plan
Agree with your GP what to take when a flare starts, and keep some at home.
Look after your heart and kidneys
Gout is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease. Keep up with your regular health checks.
Support
The UK Gout Society has free information and diet sheets.
Sources we used
We check this page at least once a year, and sooner when the rules change. Read how we check our facts, or tell us if something looks wrong.