Uric acid: Expert explains how to keep it in check and control it

A high uric acid level or hyperuricemia is defined as the presence of an excess of uric acid in your blood. Our internal system produces this acid daily as a result of the breakdown of purines, which are found in certain foods and are also formed by your body. Once this acid is formed, our blood carries it to the kidneys, where it is filtered and passed out into the urine.

The problem begins when the kidneys are not able to clear out the toxins completely from your bloodstream. The acid starts accumulating which leads to problems like kidney stones and gout. The problem of high uric acid has increased considerably in the recent past decade. This has also flamed many misconceptions. Celebrity Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar recently took to her Instagram handle and shared some useful information related to uric acid. She elaborated on the symptoms and food to eat and not to balance the level of this acid in the body.

For women, 2.4-6.0 mg/dL of uric acid is considered normal, while for men it is 3.4-7.0 mg/dL. Once the level of uric acid in your blood rises above 7 mg/dL crystals start to form in the urine, giving rise to kidney stones and gout related problems. The problem of high uric acid is more common in men as compared to women.

Contrary to popular belief, uric acid is not caused by eating some specific food nor is cutting down a solution to this issue. The problem of high uric acid mostly occurs due to an unhealthy lifestyle routine including:

Too much alcohol intake

Hypothyroidism

Immune-suppressing drugs

Obesity

Psoriasis

Purine-rich diet s

Renal insufficiency

Excessive smoking

Physical inactivity

In case of high uric acid level, your doctor may prescribe you some medication, but adding some specific food to your diet can also help to overcome the issue.

Increase your water intake: Drink 2-3 litres of water every day to keep your uric acid level in check. Water helps to flush out toxins from the body. You can add coconut water or freshly squeezed juice to keep your fluid intake up.

Banana: Rujuta recommends adding bananas to your regular diet. The fiber content in bananas can help to get rid of excess uric acid in the blood and also balance the blood sugar and insulin level.

Milk products: Milk, curd and chaas all are excellent choices to get rid of a high level of uric acid in the body. You can have all three at a different time of the day. Dahi and raisins can also be excellent options.

Nuts: Instead of having biscuits with tea or coffee have a handful of nuts. Nuts are a healthier snack option than processed foods.

Add lentils: Rujuta suggests adding a variety of lentils to your diet. Lentils are loaded with nutrients and fiber. Soak, sprout and then cook lentils for extra benefits. Also, remember to have it in proportion. Too much of it can be dangerous for health.

Sleep: Irregular sleeping patterns can be a reason for multiple health concerns. So, plan your sleeping pattern. Go to bed on time and wake up on time.

Exercise: Exercising is important for every individual. For people dealing with high uric levels, Rujuta suggests performing strength training exercises 2 days a week. Walk 1 flight of stairs every day and stand for 3 minutes after every 30 minutes of sitting.

Other things to do: Along with these, have normal home-cooked foods. There is no harm in eating spinach and tomato as they do not increase the uric acid level.

Your uric acid level does not rise by eating healthy homemade food. Packaged juice, biscuits, chips, snacks are the real concerns. Try to cut down the intake of such food items and eat more healthily.