If you’ve ever seen the play/movie 1776, you may remember a scene where Ben Franklin is led into Congress and carefully sits down, propping up his foot. He says something like “I wish King George felt like my big toe all over.” That was an allusion to taste, which Franklin suffered.
Franklin was wealthy, and at the time the affliction was called “Rich Man’s Disease”. That was because men are usually the victims, and rich food was considered the source.
To some extent, they were right. Premenopausal women rarely get this condition, and some meats are extremely high in purines. Purine breakdown is what causes breakouts. However, beer and most other protein sources can be just as bad.
The most important category of food to avoid is organ meat. No matter what creature it comes from, cow, sheep, chicken, avoid it all. For lovers of chorizo, this could be a problem, since its main ingredients fall into that category.
Shellfish can be another major trigger, especially shellfish. However, salmon oil, used to give us Omega-3 fatty acids, is known to cause breakouts. You may also want to look at supplements like glucosamine, since its source is from shellfish.
If you enjoy a good beer on a hot summer afternoon, you will not be happy with the following. Beer is doubly bad for the taste. First, yeast has purine. Second, alcohol causes dehydration, which can increase the concentration of uric acid in the bloodstream. Most alcoholic beverages will do that, although a glass or two of red wine can do more good than harm.
If you’re like me, you don’t appreciate articles that focus solely on the negative. I was taught that if I’m going to take the time to point out a problem, I should spend the time showing possible solutions, and there are some.
In the beverage department, cherry juice is great for helping to flush out uric acid crystals and reduce inflammation associated with a breakout. In fact, many 100% fruit juices will do the same thing. Citrus fruits might be an exception to this, as they are acidic and might encourage crystal formation.
Plant protein generally contains less purine than animal sources, but there are some cuts of chicken, pork, and beef that are in the acceptable category. The far portions in particular, due to decreased fat, are the most beneficial.
For Omega-3s, you may want to look at flax seed oil. It is a natural plant resource for this cholesterol-lowering constituent. You’ll still want the benefits of Omegas, and this might be your best bet.
Talk to your doctor about these suggestions. There are medications that can help, but they could interact with any type of herbal supplement, including those listed above. That’s the best way to make sure you avoid unnecessary breakouts and avoid side effects that could be a problem.