The Medical Nutrition and Nutrition Entrepreneurs dietetic practice groups of the American Dietetic Association provide medical nutrition therapy based on your diagnosis. Dietitians often have their own private practice nutrition counseling services in addition to services provided in a clinic or hospital. You can find a dietitian at the American Dietetic Association. Include your zip code or city / state, the type of service you want (individual consultation) and expertise needed.

Gout is painful swelling in the feet. Medication is the treatment of choice for gout. I would suggest you get in touch with your doctor because there are some newer gout medications on the market that may not interfere with your other medications.

The uric acid level in the blood goes up in persons with gout. Alcohol is not recommended for persons with an elevated uric acid because it causes your body to lose water and may increase the uric acid levels in the blood. Also, foods high in purines break down in the body to uric acid. However, food sources of purines account for only about 50 percent of the uric acid produced within the body. The remaining uric acid breaks down from other sources within the body.

We used to prescribe a low purine diet, but the diet is not as frequently used. A low purine diet omits organ meats like liver, kidney, sweetbreads, brains, meat gravies and extracts, sardines, anchovies, herring, mackerel, scallops and most wild game. The following foods are allowed once per day: meat; fish; poultry; dried beans and peas; asparagus; mushrooms; cauliflower; spinach.

With gout, the uric acid level in the body goes up and it is the cause of the painful feet you probably experience. Foods high in purines break down in the body to uric acid. However, food sources of purines account for only about 50 percent of the uric acid produced in the body. The remaining uric acid breaks down from other sources within the body.

High levels of uric acid increase the acidity of urine excreted by your kidneys. This increases the possibility of kidney stones. Fluid intake in the form of additional water up to two quarts per day helps ease the excretion of uric acid.

Current therapy for gout includes the use of medications to increase excretion of uric acid. A low purine diet that is limited to your Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein (50 grams for females and 63 grams for males), may also be recommended. Weight reduction for overweight persons seems to reduce uric acid production. I would caution you against drastic dieting or fasting, which increases blood uric acid levels. In a fasting state, your body breaks down more muscle than fat and greater quantities of ketone bodies are produced. These ketone bodies inhibit uric acid excretion. Persons with gout who go on very low calorie (less than 900 calories per day), actually can cause their uric acid levels to go even higher.

Alcohol may precipitate attacks of gout. Alcohol dehydrates your body of water and this action will increase your body's uric acid levels. So if you have gout, don't drink alcohol.

You should call your doctor. Until you see him/her, you could follow a low purine diet for a few days. Avoid the following high purine foods: liver; kidneys; sweetbreads; brains; meat gravies and extracts; anchovies; mackerel; sardines; herring; scallops; dried beans and peas. Remember to ask your doctor to recommend a diet appropriate for you.