Great question, Larry! You've won our question of the week... email us your contact info so we can send your free gift in the mail.

You've hit on a topic that even many medical professionals often get confused over. But to answer you, we need to go back to the basics first.

Gout used to be called "the disease of Kings", since only those who could afford rich, heavy foods would be prone to developing it. As any nutritionist can tell you, these foods would be those high in purines, which include red meats, seafood, organ meats, legumes, and foods made from yeast such as beer, alcohol and breads.

What many people DON'T realize is that the problem does not stem just from the protein in these foods, but rather specifically from the contents of the cell's nucleus within the muscle fibers. It's actually the DNA and RNA strands that contain the bulk of the purines that are broken down to release uric acid into the bloodstream. Individuals with gout either make too much uric acid (over-producers), or have trouble getting rid of uric acid through the kidneys (under-excreters.)

The reason this is important to understand is that certain types of protein have little or no cell nuclei, and therefore no significant amounts of purines. These would include milk proteins and egg whites (the yolk DOES contain purines.) Fermented milk products (yoghurt, certain cheeses) may contain more purines due to the presence of the bacteria that have purines in their cell nuclei. However non-fermented products such as milk, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and whey protein may actually reduce the risk of gout attacks based on a study in the New England Journal of Medicine (1)

So what's the bottom line? Purified protein products from whey, egg whites or rice do not appear to increase the risk of gout attacks. So good quality protein shakes and bars made specifically from these sources, used in moderation, can be a safe and effective tool for your weight loss plan. Below are some good options.

However before making any major changes in your diet, I would always recommend you speak to your personal physician as your individual situation may vary. In addition it would be a good idea to check your blood uric acid levels before and after changing your diet to make sure this plan is working for you.


(1) Purine-Rich Foods, Dairy and Protein Intake, and the Risk of Gout in Men;
New England Journal of Medicine, 2004; 350:1093-103