Avoid these food additives when you have gout
Gout patients are sensitive to foods that are high in purines which causes flareups. When you are out to select foods, you can often avoid foods that you know are high in purines such as organs meats, seafood, and alcohol. However, one often misses the fact that certain food additives are also triggers to Gout. Since these food additives are flavor enhancers and are naked to the eye, they may become difficult identify.
The good news is that food additives are mostly added to packaged and processed foods. By eating healthily and selecting to consume fresh foods in their natural form reduces your risk of exposure.
It maybe near impossible to avoid processed foods completely, but here’s a list of additives you can keep a lookout for:
1. Monsodium Glutamate – MSG
Monsodium Glutamate – MSG (E621) is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer with an umami taste that intensifies the meaty, savory flavor of food, as naturally occurring glutamate does in foods such as stews and meat soups. MSG is known to cause migraine headaches and can also cause diarrhea.
Many people mistakenly think that flavor enhancers such as MSG are only in Chinese foods, and as long as they avoid Chinese foods, they are safe. However, MSG is used in many foods like Campbell’s soup, gravies and sauces.
Common foods that contain MSG are: Fast foods, Instant noodles, canned soups, gravies, salad dressings, pasta sauces, heavily seasoned breaded meat
