Can Eating Chicken Cause a Gout Attack?
Chicken or poultry is one of the most popular meats in the world and is best known for its high protein content. We all love chicken breast in our salad, chicken soup when we are sick, chicken stew for lunch, I love chicken gyro with tzatziki, tomatoes, onions and lettuce wrapped in a pita. If you are looking for a great source of lean and low fat protein, chicken’s got it!
A 4 ounce serving provides about 35 grams of protein which is more then enough protein intake for one day! Check out my eBook to learn more about how much protein are bodies really need. All of the B vitamins are also present in chicken meat (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12) as well as plenty of sulfur-containing amino acids and branched chain amino acids which are important support for your heart and skeletal muscles.
As for minerals, selenium is the most abundant (important for metabolic performance) but you also find zinc, magnesium, copper, phosphorus and iron. Phosphorus for example, is an essential mineral that not only helps support your teeth and bones; but may also help support your kidneys and liver which is important for us gout sufferers.
For gout sufferers chicken has many health benefits, since it is packed with protein, it helps fight against bone loss in patients osteoporosis, arthritis and yes even us gout sufferers! Poultry may also help your heart health since many gout sufferers go on to suffer from heart disease later in life, there is an amino acid in chicken called homocysteine that if are high in the body may cause cardiovascular disease. By eating chicken, it may help suppress and control homocysteine levels in the body.
But Chicken is High in Purines!
Chicken is moderately high in purines and you can still eat chicken if you have gout, you just can’t go overboard with it and limit how much you eat but don’t deprive yourself of some chicken in moderation. Chicken breast with skin is 175 mg uric acid/100 g, a chicken leg with skin is about 110 mg uric acid/100 g and then you have other cuts of chicken that range in between 110 mg and 175 mg, make sure to either bake, grill, roast or boil your chicken and never eat it fried!
A gout sufferer should only eat the leanest cuts of chicken and take out the skin. Avoid adding creamy sauces and gravies on top which are high in purines and not healthy for you anyway. I personally eat chicken breast most of the time in my big salads, once a week and occasionally I’ll have my chicken gyro pita or barbequed chicken sticks in the summertime.
In conclusion, best you buy certified organic chicken with the label “pasture-raised” if you can. You want your chicken to have spent time outdoors pecking, roaming, interacting socially in a natural environment setting. For us gout sufferers I strongly recommend that you stick to eating mostly chicken breast and to add more flavor buy them with the skin intact, cook them and then remove the skin after cooking.
You’ll improve the moisture and flavor of your chicken and the fat content won’t go that much higher. Another great idea, is why not build your own chicken coop in your own backyard and provide yourself and your family with fresh organic eggs as well as raising your own chickens organically! You’ll be surprised how easy it is to build a chicken coop!
60 replies to "Gout and Chicken"
Hi, Can I take tart cherry extract if I have leaky gut and a sensitive stomach? Is tart cherry extract sour?
Best to speak to your doctor about it first to make sure but our tart cherry extract capsule is vegetarian and gluten free, so it should be easy on the stomach.
Hi sir! I have a question. Why chicken is high purine?
Because it’s a meat, protein foods like beef, lamb, pork, chicken etc… have the highest concentration of purines.
Hi
I just have few questions i can’t find answers to
1. Is diet soda OK?
2. If food contains meat, can I eat it, and just not eat the meat? Or is the bad stuff from meat part of the food?
3 A lot of curries / stews we make contain tomato paste. Should I avoid curries / stews then?
Hi Shaakir!
To answer your questions:
1. Not really, aspartame is toxic to your health. Say goodbye to sodas if I were you and drink only water, herbal teas and coffee. Some milk is fine too.
2. You can eat meat up to 4-6 ounces a day if you like. That is about 10% of your daily calories.
3. No that isn’t a problem, some tomato paste is fine, not too much. Curry is fine.
Hello Spiro! Is the basa fish fillet or tilapia fillet also a better option for people with high uric acid? is this better than chicken breast? and when you say 4-6oz of chicken breast per day, that is tantamount to 4-6lbs which is around 2 kg,right? -> this is based on the converter in Google. I hope you can help me. Thank you in advance.
Hi Kate!
4 ounces is about a quarter of a pound and 6 ounces is about 0.37 pounds. So less than half a pound is what I suggest. Fish fillet is fine, tilapia too!
Hello Spiro,
My youngest daughter, age 34 was originally diagosed with ??itits..broken bones in big toe. After several weeks, they ran test to discover her uric acid levels were very elevated. She has been told to steer clear of peanuts and tomatoes. She is not better after Rx, warm/cold compresses, ETC. I just discovered your website yesterday. I have been on the Wheat Belly regiment for almost 4 years as I am allergic to wheat. I notice your 80-10-10 diet recommends whole grains, but in another post, you give Dr. Davis credit for getting rid of the wheat. Please explain.
My daughter’s doctor just told her they’re recommending the IV meds,which is actually more like a weekly injection. They’re calling her rheumatologist to see if she would be a good candidate as he would have to administer.
Your reply would be welcome and appreciated!
A very concerned Greek mama,
Andrea 🙂
Hi Andrea!
Thank you for your comment!
Yes whole grains will not increase uric acid levels nor bother anybody if they are not allergic to wheat like people suffering from Celiac disease for example. What recommendations are you looking for?
She can eat 100% whole grain breads preferably baked with olive oil, 100% whole grain pastas and rices as well! On a plant based diet these foods will help you to remain full, you can’t just eat vegetables right? For example I had pasta today for lunch made from 100% whole grain pasta that included fresh tomato sauce, rappini, zucchini. That meal keeps me till supper cause of the whole grains and not the vegetables in it.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Spiro
Hi Spiro, I just had my first gout attack last weekend. The doctor at the Urgent Care said I had a toe sprain on Saturday, then I went back on Monday for uric acid lab work. My results came in Tuesday night and was 10.8. The Urgent Care doctor prescribed Relafen, didnt’t work; immediately after my uric acid results were in, my primary doctor prescribed colchicine, I took it for two days, didn’t really help. I asked for something stronger and he prescribed prednisone. I’ve taken this for two days and feel a difference. The pain isn’t completely gone, but I feel much better than earlier in the week. As for the meals, I’ve been eating a lot of salads and and chicken breast and drinking LOTs of water. I will be starting to order meal prep next week as the girl wants to discuss with her dietician first. I’ve already noticed I’ve lost at least 10 lbs.
Questions: Can I eat chicken breast and salmon everyday?
How quickly will my uric acid level drop and when should I redo lab test?
Can I workout (lift weights) when I have a gout attack?
Are spinach, asparagus and broccoli bad for gout?
Is taking a GNC Multivitamin the same as a Vitamin C pill?
I have many more questions, please advise.
Thank you.
Hi Tim!
You can eat chicken breast but not more than 10% of your daily calories, so about 200 calories. No more protein for the rest of the day after that. Same with salmon. You can rotate and eat chicken one day and salmon the other. Stick to 10% protein intake though.
As for how long uric acid can quickly drop, everybody is different but with colchicine it should be a few days to about 2 weeks. If you are suffering from painful inflammation it is not advisable to workout, you are only gonna prolong the healing process.
I eat them, they don’t bother me, others will tell you they do but majority of gout sufferers do not complain when eating them, especially broccoli, never heard anybody getting a flare up cause of it. As for the multivitamin, better to take vitamin C by itself. Take apple cider vinegar as well. It does help with food break down and digestion.
I’m having uric acid level 11.3. Please can you share me the food diet!
Please read my post on what a gout diet should consist of–>https://goutandyou.com/gout-diet/
Hi–Can you please give the total purines per 100 grams of chicken breast/leg/thighs without the skin-Keep up the good work as it helps us greatly!
Hi Michael!
It’s considered moderate, so about 140 mg/100g purines for breast, leg is about 120mg/100g, for thighs there is no data but nothing to worry about too much if you stick to eating protein as 10% of your daily calories as per the 80-10-10 diet.
What about partial fasting during a gout attack? During this attack I am limiting my food intake to one banana and one potatoe a day. But I am drinking as much water and cherry juice with apple cider vinegar. And I am staying in bed with my leg propped up when I am not working. What do you think? Should I continue or change it up?
Hi Oliver!
I do not recommend it. Read my post on the topic here–>https://goutandyou.com/gout-and-fasting/
Everybody’s gout and uric acid levels is different. Best to check in with your doctor and see.
My uric acid level is 9.5 and I have pain all over. This test was taken a week ago and my doctor has not contacted me. Should I be treated in some way?
Yes Susie!
That is way too high! Ask your doctor if he/she can prescribe you colchicine.
How about duck,pigeon and goose? Thank you.
Hi James!
Skip the pigeon but duck and goose you can have max 4 to 6 ounces in one day which is about 10% of your daily calories.
Hi sir. My uric acid level is 6.3.. I’m suffering a little pain in my ankle.. From 1 month I’m eating vegetarian foods only..can I start to eat chicken?
Best if you wait until the inflammation subsides. Then you can eat lean chicken breast but not more than 4 to 6 ounces in one day.
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The research shows a chicken leg (dark meat) is lower in Purines than a breast (white meat). So why do you eat the white meat with the higher purine content?
Personally I prefer the flavor of the dark meat, and since it has lower purine content it seems the wiser choice.
“there is an amino acid in chicken called homocysteine that if are high in the body can cause cardiovascular disease. By eating chicken, it helps suppress and control homocysteine levels in the body.”
I do not follow your logic here. Can you explain how this works?
“High homocysteine levels in the blood can damage the lining of the arteries. In addition, high homocysteine levels may make blood clot more easily than it should. This can increase the risk of blood vessel blockages. A clot inside your blood vessel is called a thrombus. A thrombus can travel in the bloodstream and get stuck in your lungs (called a pulmonary embolism), in your brain (which can cause a stroke) or in your heart (which can cause a heart attack.) People who have very high levels of homocysteine are at an increased risk for coronary artery disease.” (Source familydoctor.org)
By eating chicken you can lower a high homocysteine level in your body.
Hi Sir, I would like to ask if it is ok to eat chicken breast, I actually hate chicken skin, but I am more into chicken breast itself.. my uric acid was too high at 11.6 but since it was triggered I’ve been controlling my food diet for almost 2 weeks now, more veggies and leafy veggies, I eat a moderate amount of rice per day but I was confused if eating chicken was good for a gout.
Hi John!
Chicken breast is the healthiest part of the chicken and has the least amount of fat, so yes it is fine to eat chicken breast as long as it’s not more than 10% of your daily calories, so about 4 to 6 ounces. And don’t go eating more protein after that like steak, fish or any other type of meat.
My gout level is 7, can I eat chicken and fish on a daily basis and which part of the chicken is good for gout?
and my triglycerides level is 205 but total cholesterol is 188 ,HDL=40 and LDL=107 and lastly I have vitamin B12 and D deficiency.
What should I do?
Hi Uzl!
Yes you can eat 4 to 6 ounces of lean chicken breast preferably in one day. That would consist of 10% of your daily calories roughly being protein as I advise on this site and in my book. If you have a vitamin deficiency, the solution is simple, you have to supplement it with a dietary supplement, make sure to run it by your doctor before to make sure there is no interference with any of your medication.
Hi! Mr. Spiro,
Now My Uric’s Acid Back To Normal
(300), is there’s a chance My Gout
Could get Back Again?
THANKS!!
” Jun”
Never say never! Keeping following a proper gout diet as outlined in my book and website, keep your weight down, do some exercise and hopefully it never comes back.
Hi Sir,
I have gout for almost 5 years now and about 4 to 5 attacks yearly. Now I am on gout diet and sometimes I do eat lamb. Sudden attack flares up and even I am on the diet? Is there something else in the body process make more uric acid and even I am in the diet?
Hi Salih!
Please go visit your doctor cause it could many different reasons that your uric acid is not going down.
I have 8.8 uric acid .I have pain in my ankle which leads to inflammation ..What are the foods to be ignored and can I have chicken?
If your uric acid is 8.8 I would avoid all types of meat until it goes down and make sure to visit your doctor. Drink lots of water and follow the gout dietary steps I’ve outlined on my website. Eat mostly a vegetarian type diet without any frying and no cooking oils whatsoever. Try and eat mostly vegetables, beans for protein, whole grain breads, whole grain pastas and whole grain rice, legumes etc….Avoid cooking oil, eat your food mostly boiled, steamed or baked in the oven.
Spiro –
I am T2 Diabetic. I cannot eat whole wheat pasta, bread and beans due to carb count. What do you suggest for someone like me?
Hi Dirk!
Whole-grain products make up a large part of the diabetic diet. Beans as well, they are a better protein choice compared to meat and slow-digesting.Complex carbs, such as whole-grain pasta and bread, take much longer to break down into sugar. But if your diabetes is out of control then stick mainly to lots of greens, vegetables and legumes. Speak to your doctor about it.
Hi sir thank you for your useful articles my problems are now my uric acid level is 8.2 but little pain on my ankle only. Is it gout? Doctor advise me not take any meat pulses and gym also so what should I eat, I feel weak due to confuse to eat, I am not taking diet properly. Tell me diet chart plz.
Suresh you must read my entire site, take some notes and you will learn what you should eat. It is not complicated at all, the majority of your daily calories should be complex carbohydrates as in fresh vegetables, legumes, beans, whole grain breads, pastas, rices and some fruit. Do not fry at all. Eat foods as grown from the earth that burn clean.
My uric acid level is 7.1 please suggest
Me I have eat boiled chicken .Yes or no
Boiled chicken is fine but make sure to eat 4-5 ounces a day only. You need to stay in a range of 0-10% of your daily calories as meat like chicken, fish, beet etc… But if you suffer from high uric acid I would eat chicken once your levels are normal again. Stick to only vegetables, whole grain breads, pastas, rices and beans for protein instead. Beans will burn much easier in your body compared to chicken.
Is turkey ok for gout?
Hi David!
Very similar to chicken, keep it at 4-5 ounces a day which represents 10% of your daily calories as I recommend.
I’m 37 and continue to suffer from gout attacks. I’m trying to introduce chicken back into my diet. I just found out the leg has less purine than the breast. Should we be eating the legs instead or is the fat in the legs worse?
Hi Jason!
I only eat lean chicken breast, the less fat the better for your health!
I am on my 3rd gout attack. This time my left ankle and both wrists are affected. Very painful! Why has it advanced from my big toe to 3 additional places? Should I wrap my wrists? any suggestions on herbal pills that might help. I don’t want to be on meds for ever. Could this possibly be causing my tennitus and brain fog. Any suggestions from my mess of a situation would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Jason!
First step is to change your diet and lifestyle as outlined on this website and my ebook. Go see your doctor regarding your attack, he’ll probably prescribe you colchicine to get rid of the pain and inflammation. As for herbal pills, yes we do offer 2 dietary supplements to promote healthy uric acid levels. You can either Tart Cherry Extract or NutriGout, a proprietary blend of 6 key ingredients!
Is chicken better than pork for gout? Pork chops have fewer purines and result in less uric acid than chicken, yet I always hear chicken is better than pork. It just doesn’t seem correct, though.
Hi John!
Both have similar calories but chicken is a healthier choice overall. My cousin’s husband just got food poisoning from pork just this past week and now vows to not eat it ever again. Remember when deciding on what meats to eat, always look at the source, what does the animal eat? That’s how you determine if it’s healthy for you or not. Also more studies point that pork is more dangerous for your health than chicken.
Hi sir,
Thanks for writing good article about chicken and gout. I have one question for you that I am an Indian and I loved to eat Indian way for chicken made with chicken curry. So is this fine with gout?
Thanks in advance for response.
Yes of course! Curry is one of my favorite spices, it has turmeric, coriander and chili peppers!
That’s not true,they are lying as always,chicken is what causes it rhe most,and the chicken has the acid that cause gout..they’re just trying to.sell that mess to people
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