Veggies high in purines include dried beans and peas, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower and oat bran, among others.
The foods listed above can be a healthy part of your diet, but it’s important to remember that they do contain purine content.
Purine is an organic compound found in all living cells and is used by the body to make DNA or RNA. The body also uses it to make hormones and other chemicals. Purine levels can be elevated when kidney disease or certain nutritional deficiencies are present.
High levels of uric acid in the blood can lead to gout attacks. Gout is a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid crystals in joints.
High-purine vegetables include asparagus, spinach, peas, mushrooms and cauliflower.
Grapes, cherries, strawberries and plums are all high in uric acid.
Chicken has a moderate amount of uric acid. It’s higher than most meats, but lower than fish like salmon.
Okra is low in purines and won’t increase your risk of gout attacks. However, it does contain lectins that may cause inflammation if consumed regularly.
The following vegetables are high in purine content:
Asparagus
Beetroot
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage, green or red
Cauliflower
Okra
Parsnip
While there are a few vegetables that are naturally high in purines, it is not necessary to avoid eating them.
The following vegetables have a high content of purines:
Okra (a type of vegetable)
Asparagus
Beetroot (red beet)
Tomato
Beetroot: 1 cup (134g) of raw beetroot contains approximately 0.2g of purines.
Celery: 1 cup (120g) of chopped celery contains approximately 0.2g of purines.
Cucumber: 1 cup (126g) of sliced cucumber contains approximately 0.3g of purines.
Green beans: 1 cup (122g) of green beans contains approximately 0.2g of purines.
Peas: 1 cup (100g) of peas contains approximately 0.1g of purines.
Uric acid is a waste product that is produced when the body breaks down purine. Purines are chemicals found in many foods, including red meat and some seafood.
The amount of uric acid in your blood can be measured as a part of routine blood testing. A high level of uric acid may indicate certain medical conditions, such as gout or kidney disease.
High Uric Acid in Vegetables
Vegetables don’t contain much purine, but some vegetables that grow above ground do contain it. Vegetables high in purine include celery, cauliflower and mushrooms.
Vegetables with Low Purine Content
Vegetables low in purine include carrots, cucumbers and leafy greens (collards, spinach and kale).
Purine is a compound that is found in many foods. Purines are a source of nitrogen, which your body uses to make DNA and RNA. Purines also help regulate the amount of water in your body.
Purine comes from the Latin word “purus,” meaning “pure.” Some foods contain both purines and pyrimidines (compounds with similar chemical structures), but other foods contain only one or the other.
Purines, especially adenine, are also used in making drugs because they’re chemically very similar to other substances that play important roles in your body
Fruits high in uric acid
Adenine is an essential component of DNA, an important component of RNA and a building block for several amino acids. It’s also used in several drugs, such as those used for chemotherapy and antiviral medications.
Is chicken high in purines?
Chicken contains more than 20 different purines — including hypoxanthine, guanine, uric acid and xanthine — as well as pyrimidines like cytosine, thymine and uracil.
Purines are compounds that contain nitrogen and are found in many foods. In the body, they break down into uric acid, which is normally excreted in urine.
Purine-rich foods are high in protein or have a high sugar content. Purines are found in:
Fruits and vegetables
Meat and poultry
Seafood
Purines are nitrogen-containing bases that are found in DNA and RNA. The most common purine is adenine, which is paired with guanine.
Purines are present in all living things, including humans. They’re particularly abundant in meat, seafood and beans.
When you consume foods high in purines, your body breaks them down into uric acid. Uric acid is then excreted through your kidneys and passed out of your body through urine.
The purine content of food is measured by a laboratory test called the Purine Index. It measures how much purine is contained in a 100-gram serving of the food.
Foods high in purines include:
Organ meats, like liver and kidney
Seafood, especially shellfish (such as crab, lobster, clams and mussels)
Soybeans and soybean products (including tofu)
Purines are nitrogen-containing compounds found in all living cells. Purine is a component of adenine and guanine, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA.
Foods that contain purines include meats, fish and shellfish, as well as legumes (beans), some vegetables (such as spinach), mushrooms and yeast.
Purines are also present in beer and wine.
Foods with lower amounts of purines include soybeans, dairy products, grains and eggs.