High uric acid: Clear steps to understand and lower it
High uric acid often leads to painful gout attacks and can harm kidneys. If you've been told your uric acid is high, you want simple facts and actions you can use right away. This page explains what raises uric acid, how it shows up in the body, and practical steps - diet, habits, and medical options - to get levels down.
What raises uric acid?
Uric acid comes from breaking down purines, which are in many foods and in every cell. Eating lots of red meat, organ meats, shellfish, and beer boosts purine intake. Fructose-sweetened drinks raise production too. Reduced kidney function or certain medicines can stop your body from removing uric acid effectively. Rapid weight loss and crash diets can temporarily raise levels, so steady weight loss is safer.
How to lower uric acid now
Start with hydration: drink water through the day to help kidneys flush uric acid. Cut back on beer and sweetened drinks first - those have a big effect. Swap red meat and shellfish for lean poultry, eggs, and low-fat dairy; dairy often helps lower uric acid. Eat more vegetables, whole grains, and cherries or cherry juice, which some studies link to fewer gout attacks. Add vitamin C rich foods like oranges and peppers - vitamin C can slightly reduce uric acid.
Move a bit each day: regular moderate exercise helps weight and insulin resistance, both tied to uric acid. Aim for gradual weight loss if you're overweight - losing too fast can worsen uric acid temporarily. Avoid crash diets and fasting.
If you have recurring gout attacks or very high uric acid, medication may be needed. Common drugs include allopurinol and febuxostat to lower production, or uricosuric agents to boost excretion. Don't start or stop prescription drugs without talking to your doctor; some treatments need dose changes based on kidney function and other medicines.
Get tested: a simple blood test measures uric acid and helps track progress. Doctors may also check kidney function and screen for other risks like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cholesterol. Bring a list of your medicines - diuretics and low-dose aspirin can raise uric acid.
Practical daily tips: replace beer with water or unsweetened tea, choose low-fat dairy, limit sugary snacks, eat cherries occasionally, and keep moving. If you feel sudden intense joint pain, swelling, and redness - especially in the big toe - seek prompt care; gout attacks respond best to early treatment.
High uric acid isn't an immediate disaster, but it needs attention. Small changes add up: better diet, steady weight loss, hydration, and working with your doctor can cut attacks and protect your kidneys. Start with one change this week - skip the beer or add an extra glass of water - and build from there.
Work with your doctor to set a target uric acid level and a plan. For many people the goal is under 6 mg/dL, but targets change if you have kidney stones or tophi. Follow-up blood tests every few months are common when starting treatment. If medicines are used, take them daily and report side effects early. Keep a simple diary of attacks and triggers.
