High uric acid levels in the blood can be caused by the type of food consumed. Some foods that are high in purines, like red meat and innards, can exacerbate gout symptoms. Green vegetables like spinach and asparagus are also high in purine compounds. So, what about celery? Can people who have gout eat celery?

What is uric acid?

Gout pain is a condition that causes joint pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the joints as a result of excessive uric acid crystal buildup. Gout pain can affect any part of the joint, but the most common are the big toes, ankles, fingers, and knees.

The pain can last for the first 4–12 hours after the attack and up to 3–10 days, followed by rapidly progressing symptoms. After the pain goes away, people with gout typically feel discomfort in the joint area and have limited movement.

Relationship between gout and celery

Gout pain results from the accumulation of uric acid in the joints. Excessive uric acid in the blood can accumulate and form crystals in the joints. The uric acid crystals cause inflammation, resulting in pain and swelling. Uric acid buildup can be caused by a variety of factors, including eating foods that are high in purines, such as red meat, innards, and green vegetables.

Green vegetables with high purine content, such as spinach and asparagus, are generally not recommended for people with high uric acid. However, some green vegetables, such as celery, are thought to reduce uric acid levels in the bloodstream.

According to Healthline, celery contains compounds that can help reduce uric acid levels in the blood, like:

• Luteolin

In an animal study, researchers discovered that the luteolin content of celery seeds can reduce uric acid-induced nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is an essential compound for the body, but too much can cause inflammation.

In addition, luteolin is a flavonoid antioxidant that can directly lower uric acid levels. Luteolin inhibits the production of xanthine oxidase, which produces uric acid byproducts. Lowering uric acid levels may also reduce the frequency of gout attacks.

• 3-n-butylphthalide

Research has also revealed that the compound 3-n-butylphthalide from celery is thought to have benefits against gout inflammation. The study found that exposing specific cells to 3-n-butylphthalide reduced oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory pathways.

• Beta-selinene

Similarly, the beta-selinene content in celery seeds is thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help in gout treatment.

With various benefits on celery for gout, researchers reveal that celery can be useful for people with gout. However, more research is needed to determine the effectiveness and potential side effects of using celery to reduce uric acid. If you want to lower your uric acid levels by eating celery, celery seed extract, or other celery preparations, you should first consult with a doctor or nutritionist.

Other natural ways to reduce uric acid levels in the body include limiting consumption of foods high in purines, reducing excess sugar intake, increasing fluid consumption, reducing alcohol consumption, losing weight for obese people, and consuming plenty of fiber and foods containing vitamin C.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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