Can Shellfish like Shrimp, Lobster or Crabs Cause Gout?

With dark blue seas on both sides of the country, it’s no wonder that Canadians love eating seafood. From big, juicy lobsters to brightly colored salmon, it’s safe to say that Canadians won’t be facing a shortage of shellfish or fish anytime soon.

In fact, recent reports show that global fish production has been steadily increasing during the last few years. As populations grow and attitudes towards meat consumption shift, more people are turning to what is touted as lighter and healthier alternatives to meat and pork: seafood.

For gout sufferers, this poses a horrible dilemma. You see, millions of Canadians LOVE eating freshly-baked lobsters and having delicious wine along with a mouth-watering plate of Cedar-Plank Salmon.

That being said, no delicious plate of seafood is worth risking the pain and suffering caused by a gout flare-up.

Seafood is good, BUT…

People often use the terms seafood, shellfish, and fish interchangeably. For the sake of clarity, we’ll stick to these classifications:

● Fish: animals that have bones (many!) on the inside.

● Shellfish: animals that have an exoskeleton.

● Seafood: refers to all sea creatures including fish and shellfish.

Studies show that what sets the “good” foods apart from the potentially “harmful” ones is the level of purines they contain. All seafood, including fish and shellfish, are known to have high amounts of purines.

Let’s take a closer look at how purines influence gout flares.

Purines explained

Purine compounds are naturally created in the body and are also found in many of the foods we eat. The body then breaks down the purines to uric acid. The waste is normally synthesized through the kidneys and excreted from the body via stool and urine.

However, when there is an excessive level of purines in our bodies, our kidneys aren’t able to synthesize them properly. Therefore, these waste product residuals are left in the body. These can eventually harden into needle-like urate crystals and can deposit inside the joint areas.

Over time, the joint movements will start breaking off pieces of these growing urate crystals in the joints. This causes an automatic immune response that creates inflammation, and that’s when the gout attack ensues.

Purine-rich seafood

It is widely understood that fish and shellfish contain high amounts of purine. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that consuming them will provoke a gout attack later on. For example, vegetables like peas, beans, and spinach are purine-rich yet do not increase the risk of gout.

Therefore, in addition to the level of purines, one must also consider the type of purine the food contains. Shellfish are rich in adenine purines, while shellfish contain lots of hypothanxine. Both types of purines are known to have a high potential for raising uric acid levels.

Let’s take a closer look at shellfish

When you think of a fancy seafood dinner, a large vibrant-red lobster usually comes to mind. This can be counterintuitive when you consider the fact that lobsters are scavengers. In other words, they will eat whatever (as in, whatever) leftovers they can get their claws on.

Plus, lobsters look like strange, armored-shelled creatures from another planet, and they certainly don’t look like the playful type. In addition to lobsters, the shellfish category includes crustaceans and mollusks like shrimp, crabs, oysters, octopus, and more.

It really makes one wonder what it is about these strange creatures that make them so popular all over the world.

Well, the reality is that lobsters and other shellfish actually pack a TON of nutritional and medicinal value.

For starters, they are rich in fatty acids like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Fatty acids have been shown to provide heart-protecting and human brain development benefits.

In addition, eating shellfish can help reduce body inflammation. Consuming shellfish can provide you with dietary proteins and cholesterol of the healthy kind. Not only that, but they can really help reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

Finally, shellfish can be incredibly delicious to eat. It’s no wonder that it’s hard for many gout sufferers to eat “just a little bit.”

So are shellfish really bad for gout?

Despite the aforementioned nutritional and medicinal benefits, shellfish should always be considered a risky meal for anyone who suffers from gout. It’s not a coincidence that shellfish always make the list of bad gout foods.

While it is true that you should stay away from ALL seafood after a recent gout attack, here are some tips to keep in mind. Shellfish like lobsters, shrimps, crabs, oysters and clams can be consumed in moderate amounts because of their medium level of purines.

Anyone who suffers from gout should absolutely stay away from shellfish like mussels and scallops as these have high levels of purine.

Let’s take a closer look at fish

Fish have been associated with being a healthy source of vitamins, nutrients, and powerful medicinal benefits for centuries. They make a nice alternative to land-based meats like steak and chicken, and they tend to have a delicious taste.

Fish is great for a healthy diet

Eating fish provides your body with a low-fat, quality protein meal. They contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and multiple vitamins including D and B2.

In addition, fish is stocked with plenty of calcium and phosphorus as well as minerals like zinc, iodine, iron, potassium, and even magnesium! These can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

For those looking to maintain a light, healthy diet, doctors recommend including about two meals of fish per week.

Fish promotes healthy heart and brain functions

The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish provide the necessary nutrients that help promote healthy heart and brain functions. This is especially true when you consider the fact that our bodies cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids naturally.

Luckily, omega-3 acids can be found practically in every kind of fish, especially in “fatty fish.” To be clear, fish do not produce omega-3 fatty acids themselves. Rather, they are developed from plants.

Some of the best fish sources of omega-3 unsaturated fats come from salmon, trout, and canned light tuna.

So, are fish really bad for gout?

Unlike shellfish, which have a medium-to-high gout risk profile, fish has a more balanced risk outlook. Recent studies revealed that eating certain fish could help mitigate the risk of gout flares by up to 33%.

On the flip side, however, other kinds of fish act as a magnet for purines and should be avoided at all costs.

Even with gout, people can eat fish in moderate amounts to enjoy their intake of omega-3 acids and other nutritional benefits. The key here is to be mindful of the total purine content as well as mercury levels in the fish you consume.

Large fish with bigger muscle mass tend to contain more mercury than their smaller counterparts. You can maintain minimal exposure to mercury by eating fish like skipjack, yellowfin, and tongol.

If you suffer from gout, stay away from these fish

Certain fish have such elevated levels of purine that makes consuming them a really bad idea. Leading the pack of forbidden fish to eat are anchovies. They are usually available freshly made, canned, or even in some pizzas.

If you want to avoid a gout attack, make sure you stay away from anchovies! Other forbidden fish to include in your list are sardines, herring, mackerel, and even fish roe.

Fish that actually help relieve gout attacks

One of the best ways to ensure you are eating gout-friendly seafood meals is by focusing on how to limit the intake of purines in your system. A great way to do this is by boiling fish in water. Studies have shown that this can lead up to a 60% reduction in purine content.

Although not as effective, steamed fish can also help bring down the amount of purine in your meal. Unfortunately, microwaving your fish has shown to be ineffective in lowering purine levels in any significant way.

Interestingly, freezing your fish provides only a modest reduction of purine. But it does take 10 weeks of freezing below 0F temperatures. Next!

Practical cooking tips for gout-friendly seafood meals

Studies have demonstrated that there does exist a link between eating raw or roasted fish, with hyperuricemia. However, no link was found between hyperuricemia and eating boiled or fried fish.

It’s no secret that living with gout can be physically and mentally challenging. Luckily, the medical community has made great strides in showing people how to regain their confidence by putting gout under control.

In addition to boiling or steaming fish in hot water, you can also try using plant-based oils that contain a high level of antioxidants. These can be used to fry, marinate, or even flavor your fish or other seafood.

Remember, try to avoid as best as possible any fish or shellfish meal when you are recovering from a recent bout with gout. Otherwise, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a nice seafood meal as long as you’re keeping to a balanced diet.

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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.