Even as the Chinese New Year season draws to a close today, many people are undoubtedly still enjoying their festive lunches, dinners and snacks.
One of the most popular dining options during this time is hotpot or steamboat – that awesome pot filled with a simmering soup base into which raw and semi-cooked ingredients are plunged and cooked before being savoured.
But for people with gout, enjoying a good hotpot can be challenging as many ingredients are high in purines and may trigger gout attacks.
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by an accumulation of uric acid in the blood, which leads to the formation of crystals in the joints and surrounding tissue. The body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines, chemical compounds found naturally in food.
The most common symptom of gout is sudden, severe pain in one or more joints at a given time. It is often accompanied by swelling, redness, constant discomfort, and tenderness.
Gout flares can start suddenly and last for days or weeks, followed by a long period of remission.
Foods that are high in purines include seafood, red meat, organ meats, alcohol, and sweetened beverages. Prolonged boiling of high-purine food sources, such as with hotpot, may increase purine content in the soup, which in turn increases uric acid in the body.
How to enjoy your hotpot
1. Choose low-purine ingredients
It’s important to choose ingredients that are low in purines. Good options include tofu; dark green leafy vegetables; specific seafood such as tuna, tilapia or salmon; and lean cuts of meat such as chicken.
2. Opt for a broth with lower purine levels
Many steamboat broths are made with ingredients such as bones and seafood. To reduce your risk of a gout flare-up, choose a broth made with low-purine ingredients such as vegetables or chicken.
3. Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks
Alcohol is a known trigger for gout flare-ups, so it’s important to avoid it at all times, not only while enjoying hotpot. Stick with black or green tea, coconut, plum or unsweetened barley water, or freshly made lemonade.
4. Drink plenty of water
Water helps to flush excess uric acid out of the body, which directly reduces the risk of flare-ups. Aim for the recommended eight glasses a day.
5. Practise portion control
While hotpot is meant to be enjoyed in large quantities, it’s important for those with gout to limit their eating, as large portions can increase the risk of a flare-up.
Remember to listen to your body and pay attention to any signs of discomfort or pain. With careful planning and the right approach, it’s possible to enjoy the festive season while managing your gout.
This article was written by DOC2US, a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere.