Super Bowl Sunday is a day for celebrating, but aside from cheering on two top NFL teams, the food table also takes center stage. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest food consumption day of the year. Americans will eat around 1.23 billion chicken wings and will drink 325 million gallons of beer – enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 1,938 times. While this is just par for the course on the most revered day in football, it can be dangerous for someone who is at risk for gout.
| Photo Credit: rakratchada torsap via FreeDigitalPhotos.ne |
Gout is a very painful form of arthritis that develops when high levels of uric acid cause crystals to accumulate in joints. It causes pain and inflammation specifically in the joint at the base of the big toe. Gout can come on suddenly – often in the middle of the night – and is often triggered by certain foods that contain a substance called purines.
If you have had a gout attack or know that you are at risk, it is important to limit your intake of foods that are high in purines. Before you head out to a party, print out this list of foods to avoid in order to keep gout at bay.
- Anchovies
- Foods high in saturated fat
- Seafood (herring, tuna, shrimp, lobster & scallops)
- Foods and beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup
- Turkey
- Asparagus, cauliflower, spinach and mushrooms
- Red meat (beef, pork & lamb)
- Limit alcohol to one or two 5-ounce servings a day
If you are concerned about gout or are in need of treatment right now, do not wait—contact Mark Gasparini, D.P.M. for help. Call our podiatric office in Massapequa, NY at (516) 804-9038 to make an appointment today
