Is gout affected by diet? Well yes, it certainly is and this has been proven by all the research that has been done by scientists - many and varied tests have been carried out to prove it. These tests have identified which foods are to be avoided. And the main culprits from the point of view of foods, are foods which are high in purine.

You may be keen on seafood, but it is certainly a gout food to avoid for anyone who is a sufferer. That doesn't mean that all seafood is a problem - for instance, crab, lobster and shrimp are not too bad - in moderation. But high on the problem list for seafood will be: mackerel, trout, herring, anchovies, mussels, caviar, sardines and scallops.

The problem lies in the "PH level" = the difference between alkalinity and acidity of the foods. And a small variation can mean the difference between a food that should be avoided, and a food that would be used in gout treatment. And I would not be a bit surprised if it turned out that foods that have high acid levels actually trigger gout (although there is no hard evidence for it - it's just speculation).

And don't think that vegetables and fruit are no problem for gout sufferers. They can cause problems too - a good example of this is the tomato. They can have high levels of purine - smaller tomatoes are even more likely to have it. Large tomatoes such as the beefsteak variety are a safer bet than something like a cherry or a plum tomato. When it comes to legume vegetables such as lentils, dried beans and peas, they are better left alone, or at least to be eaten very sparingly. Keep away from mushrooms - definitely a gout food to avoid. And it's also better to just rule out asparagus and spinach.