My dad suffered with gout for so long and I could never understand why. I thought it was “what happens when you get older” as he would tell me.
It turns out there’s a reason people get gout, and it’s not a mystery. Gout has a ton to do with your kidney health (or lack thereof).
We’ll get back to that in a moment….
But,
Your body accumulates toxins, eliminates those toxins, and creates energy all by itself every single day.
If something stops your body from working, it causes backups. You get symptoms like gout.
Gout is a sign that something is not working right in your body.
In the U.S., about 9 million people have gout. It mainly affects older men.
That tells me there’s a connection to age (and thus mitochondrial health) and testosterone (in men).
My dad would tell me it would hurt so bad that he couldn’t put a sock on his foot or even have a sheet on his bed touch his big toe. When it happened in the winter it was cold and his cold foot would keep him awake all night long.
As a result, I wrote an article all about home treatments for gout that really work. I strongly recommend that you read it.
What Causes Gout?
The main cause of gout is high uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) in the blood due to the improper functioning of the kidneys. When conditions like gout occur, there’s a lot going on in your body. For example, why can’t your kidneys process the uric acid? If you were eating too much, why could your kidneys handle it when you were younger and they cannot now?
Is it the excess uric acid or your kidney health?
If it’s the latter, why?
My best guess from all my research is that it is a lack of energy production in your mitochondria.
Then the next logical question is why aren’t you producing energy (ATP) effectively?
Blue light, oxidative stress, heavy metals, deuterium, toxins, and chemicals stop electron flow in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This process is essential for making ATP.
All disease expresses as a result from not making enough ATP.
If you avoid toxins, do regular cleanses, and expose yourself to red lights, you can boost your energy and sleep. Drink deuterium-depleted water, increase your copper, and eat a clean diet. Also, spend more time outdoors.
Other factors that play a role in gout metabolic syndrome and….
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Obesity
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Insulin resistance
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High blood sugar
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Hypertension
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Inflammation
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Kidney disease
If you have gout, you may be on the road to some of these other health conditions. That’s not to scare you, it’s just something to be aware of.
Organ Meats
If I had gout, I’d immediately get off all these foods for at least a month and see how it affects my kidneys. I’d also get a food allergy test just to make sure I’m not eating any foods that could be causing oxidative stress.
Organ meats like liver, kidneys, and heart are notorious for their high purine content, making them a pretty massive trigger for gout.
Purines in your body break down into uric acid. In excess, it can crystallize in your joints, causing intense pain when symptoms flare up. I hear it feels like there are tiny little knives inside their joints, slashing and stabbing them on the inside.
These organ meats are really high in purine concentration, way more than just other protein sources like muscle meats. If you’re prone to “get the gout” as my dad would say then you should avoid organ meats or any supplements containing them.
At least I would.
Purine-rich foods intake and recurrent gout attacks
A 2012 study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases looked at 633 participants and analyzed their total purine intake over two days. The study found that organ meats, due to their high purine content, significantly increased the risk of recurrent gout attacks. The conclusion? If you’re prone to gout, cutting back on liver and other organ meats is a smart move. – Source
Seafood
Seafood is another major food that triggers gout. Research shows that shellfish, especially shrimp, mussels, and scallops, are the biggest culprits. So are sardines, anchovies, and mackerel. They too contain more purine than regular meats.
The purines, as I mentioned, don’t get broken down by the kidneys. They form sharp crystals (I think of them as little Swiss Army knives) in your joints. They cause intense pain.
Some low purine seafood that’s a bit safer is options like salmon or catfish if you can’t seem to avoid seafood for some reason. 😉
Recent Advances in the Application of Foodborne Substances in Hyperuricemia
A recent 2024 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry explored purine-rich food sources, including seafood, and their effects on hyperuricemia (excess uric acid). The researchers confirmed that increased purine intake from seafood was linked to higher uric acid levels, reinforcing the idea that limiting shellfish and oily fish could help prevent gout flare-ups. – Source
Alcohol
To prevent gout flare-ups, focus on helping your mitochondria produce ATP effectively. Also, work on improving your kidney function. I share a lot of tips for that here if you’re interested.
But, alcohol (especially beer and spirits) triggers gout. It is both highly estrogenic. Alcohol increases uric acid production while preventing its elimination through your kidneys. Not good.
Beer is high in purines (my dad loved his Coors Light). They break down into uric acid. If it accumulates, it can damage your kidneys and settle in your joints.
Also, alcohol dehydrates your body. It affects every organ, but it especially lowers kidney function. When your kidney cells are not hydrated, they can’t create ATP. This makes them atrophy and calcify. Then they can’t flush out excess uric acid.
Alcohol dehydrates you at the cellular level.
When this happens, every organ’s cells can’t function at full capacity, not just kidney cells.
Clinical features of inflammatory arthritis in daily practice—China’s perspective
A 2025 study published in Clinical Rheumatology examined alcohol consumption among arthritis patients in China. The researchers found that alcohol was one of the top three factors contributing to inflammatory arthritis, including gout. Their advice? Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake can significantly lower the risk of painful gout attacks. – Source
High Fructose Corn Syrup
The problem with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is that it’s so ubiquitous. It’s in almost everything today. It’s in nearly all processed foods, which means that it’s in 95% of what the average American eats.
The other problem is that it increases the production of uric acid by the way your liver metabolizes it. As a result, it overwhelms your liver and also your kidneys. As a result, it crystallizes in the blood and settles in your joints where there is less blood flow and oxygen (and nutrients).
High fructose corn syrup is in soft drinks and energy drinks. It’s also in cereals, candy bars, and other common foods. I don’t know how people can eat that stuff, but that’s for them to deal with.
Sugary processed foods, after-work cocktails, and organ meats and seafood can harm your kidneys if you are prone to gout.
Effects of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Addition to Broiler Diets on Performance, Carcass Yield, Visceral Weights, Gut pH and Some Blood Parameters
A 2024 study in Veterinary Medicine and Science looked at the effects of high-fructose corn syrup on metabolic health, including uric acid levels. The findings showed that increased consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages led to elevated uric acid, a key driver of gout. This supports the recommendation to avoid sugary drinks to help manage or prevent gout. – Source
Conclusion
There are other considerations as well, such as consuming a high oxalate diet, which I choose to avoid. These are foods like broccoli, spinach, beets, and chocolate. If I had gout, I would avoid them. If you’ve tried avoiding high fructose corn syrup, alcohol, organ meats and seafood, I’d read the book Toxic Superfoods to learn even more about the connection between oxalates and gout.
I would also take supplements for kidney health.
Questions:
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Do you have gout?
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What were your symptoms?
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Did anything help to get rid of it?
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If so, what helped?
Comment below!
