How to Lower Uric Acid Levels (7 Natural Ways to Do It)

Medically Approved by Dr. Edward Salko

Imagine taking a uric acid blood test and finding out your uric levels are off the charts. This could be worrisome, especially if you are well aware of the medical conditions it may indicate, such as gout and kidney problems.

However, you shouldn’t panic, especially since your doctor will likely get to the bottom of the problem. Plus, there are natural ways to lower uric acid and help manage related conditions like gout.

Causes of High Uric Acid

Elevated uric acid (hyperuricemia) results from a high level of purines⁽¹⁾ in the body. Purines are organic to living cells and play a vital role in several molecular functions, such as DNA and RNA synthesis and cell signaling.

Purines are found in many types of foods. They are broken down to be utilized by the cells, producing uric acid, which the kidneys filter out. Hence, high purine levels can equate to high uric acid.

The following are the common reasons you may have increased purines and, by extension, elevated uric acids.

Your diet is rich in high-purine foods.
Your kidneys are not functioning correctly.
You are genetically predisposed to high uric acid levels.
You’re taking medications that raise uric acid levels.

Expert tip: Checking your kidney function via blood test can provide a better picture of any problems in filtering the uric acid out of your body. If the test confirms kidney problems, you should discuss renal diet planning with your doctor.

Avoid Foods High in Purine

Some foods contain high purines, which are characterized by exceeding 150 mg per 100 grams. Hyperuricemia has a direct correlation with consuming purine-rich foods⁽²⁾, such as the following:

Organ meats (liver, kidneys, and sweetbreads)
Red meat (pork, beef, and lamb)
Game meat (goose, venison, and duck)
Certain fish and seafood (scallops, mussels, anchovies, and sardines)
Yeast-based products (marmite, vegemite, and malt liquor)

If you wish to lower uric acid fast, scatch these foods off your grocery list and meal plans. Other foods also contain moderate amounts of purine, which means you don’t necessarily have to eliminate them from your diet, but you should limit intake to small amounts.

These foods with moderate purines include the following:

Legumes (lentils, peas, baked beans, and soybeans)
Mushrooms
Spinach
Cauliflower
Asparagus
Shellfish (shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and oysters)
Poultry meat (chicken and turkey)

When preparing your meal plan for lowering uric acid naturally, make sure to talk to your doctor or nutritionist first. Although a high uric acid level can be a problem on its own, it could also be due to an underlying condition, which could aggravate if you suddenly change your diet.

Once your doctor gives you the green light to tailor your diet, follow a consistent plan and apply other recommended lifestyle adjustments to see the best results.

Add More Fiber to Your Diet

You can never go wrong with adding more dietary fiber to your diet–unless otherwise advised by your doctor, which is extremely rare.

When it comes to lowering uric acid levels fast, eating fiber-rich foods⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾ can help regulate purine absorption by allowing these compounds to bind to the fibers. As fiber is not wholly digested in the gut, it can carry the purines out during excretion.

Consider adding the following soluble fiber-rich foods that lower uric acid:

Citrus fruits
Cherries
Celery
Carrots
Chia seeds
Flaxseeds
Oats
Brown rice
Quinoa
Apples
Berries
Pear

Check Your Present Medications

Certain drugs contain substances that could trigger the increase of uric acid levels or interfere with its lowering mechanism. For example, thiazide diuretics⁽⁵⁾, which are used to medicate high blood pressure, impact the kidneys’ ability to flush out uric acid.

On the other hand, drugs used for chemotherapy⁽⁶⁾ also promote high uric acid levels due to cells breaking down, allowing the natural purine to be released into the bloodstream.

To better understand why your uric acid levels are elevated and how to treat the condition properly, inform your doctor about the medications you are currently taking.

Consider Taking Supplements

Studies have shown that some supplements can help lower uric acid levels⁽⁷⁾⁽⁸⁾ by promoting its excretion and reducing inflammatory activities, which can result from high uric acid levels.

Some of the recommended supplements for reducing uric acid levels are:

Vitamin C: Although the relationship between vitamin C and uric acid levels remains inconclusive, some studies suggest that vitamin C supplementation⁽⁹⁾ (~500 mg daily) encourages uric acid excretion and prevents its reabsorption in the bloodstream.
Cherry extract: Cherries contain anthocyanins⁽¹⁰⁾ that help enhance the kidneys’ ability to flush out uric acids. However, more evidence is required to support this mechanism.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Supplements with omega-3 fatty acids⁽¹¹⁾ can help lower uric acid through its anti-inflammatory properties and role in improving kidney function.
Folic acid: Adding folic acid supplements⁽¹²⁾ to your diet may reduce uric acid by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which is essential for its production. Folic acid also helps improve kidney capacity.
Calcium: A 2022 study suggests that calcium supplements⁽¹³⁾, particularly calcium citrate, have urate-lowering capacity in the blood. The mechanism is yet to be explored, but it suggests that urate binds with calcium in the intestine.

Supplements that help lower uric acid can be effective for others but not for some people. Likewise, it’s essential to understand that these supplements alone cannot pull down uric acid levels. Consult your doctor if you genuinely require supplementation and how they can impact your overall health.

Stay Hydrated

With whatever natural remedy you’re looking for, regardless of disease, it’s not unlikely to find drinking water as part of the action. Hydration is an essential step to maintaining optimum health.

In the case of lowering uric acid, water has a crucial role in dilution and excretion. Water dilutes uric acid and triggers urination to flush it out of the body. Plus, water prevents uric acid crystallization that accumulates in joints, such as gout.

Keep track of your daily water intake and match it according to your tailored needs. More on the health benefits of water can be found in our other guide.

Drink Coffee

Caffeine has a similar structure to medications prescribed to treat gout, specifically ones that inhibit the enzyme responsible for producing uric acid, xanthine oxidase.

Caffeine also promotes excretion and competes with purines, so the breakdown is more focused on caffeine than purines. This leads to lower uric acid levels⁽¹⁴⁾.

However, research regarding the true relationship between coffee consumption and lower uric acid has mixed conclusions. Additional studies must be explored to establish the context.

Limit Intake of Alcohol and Sugary Drinks

Some alcoholic beverages contain high purines, like beer. It could also contribute to dehydration, which delays the elimination of uric acid via urination.

Conversely, sugary drinks typically contain fructose as their sweetener. Fructose is a type of sugar known to increase uric acid production and is a notorious factor in weight gain and inflammation.

If you’re on a mission to lower uric acid naturally, you better limit these drinks from your diet. It would be best to remove them altogether, but make sure to work closely with your doctor, especially if it involves alcohol dependence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if uric acid is high?

The most common consequence of high uric acid is gout. Gout involves intense joint pain, usually starting from the big toe, due to the accumulation of crystallized uric acids that prick like needles. In addition to pain, the affected joint can experience swelling, redness, and warmth. High uric acid can also contribute to kidney stone formation.

What is the fastest way to lower uric acid?

In addition to taking medications for what’s causing the high uric acid, like gout, there is no single way to lower uric acid fast. Instead, you have to check the marks on a combination of actions, like limiting purine-rich foods, staying hydrated, and adding supplements with your doctor’s approval, of course. Combine all these steps to see more effective and faster results.

How long does it take for allopurinol to lower uric acid levels?

Allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase, which helps produce uric acids. While it starts to work behind the scenes, 2-3 days after starting the medication, you may not see any immediate reduction in symptoms. Allopurinol will likely show its effect in lowering uric acid levels within 1-3 weeks.

The Bottom Line

High uric acid levels can be concerning, but there are natural ways to lower them. You can help regulate your uric acid levels by avoiding foods high in purine, adding more fiber to your diet, checking your current medications, and considering taking supplements.

Consult your doctor or a licensed healthcare provider for personalized advice and treatment for any underlying conditions causing elevated uric acid levels. You can effectively manage and prevent gout and other related conditions with the right approach.

Sources:

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² Aihemaitijiang S, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Yang J, Ye C, Halimulati M, Zhang W, Zhang Z. The Association between Purine-Rich Food Intake and Hyperuricemia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Chinese Adult Residents. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 15;12(12):3835. doi: 10.3390/nu12123835. PMID: 33334038; PMCID: PMC7765492.

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⁵ Raja R, Kavita F, Amreek F, Shah A, Sayeed KA, Sehar A. Hyperuricemia Associated with Thiazide Diuretics in Hypertensive Adults. Cureus. 2019 Aug 22;11(8):e5457. doi: 10.7759/cureus.5457. PMID: 31641556; PMCID: PMC6802803.

⁶ Zhou Y, Li J, Ma Y, Tang M, Yuan X, Shen L. Elevated serum uric acid is associated with the risk of advanced staging and vascular involvement in patients with hepatoblastoma: a 14-year retrospective study. Front Oncol. 2023 Apr 14;13:1144349. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1144349. PMID: 37124543; PMCID: PMC10140562.

⁷ Roumeliotis S, Roumeliotis A, Dounousi E, Eleftheriadis T, Liakopoulos V. Dietary Antioxidant Supplements and Uric Acid in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review. Nutrients. 2019 Aug 15;11(8):1911. doi: 10.3390/nu11081911. PMID: 31443225; PMCID: PMC6723425.

⁸ Andrés M, Sivera F, Buchbinder R, Pardo Pardo J, Carmona L. Dietary supplements for chronic gout. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Nov 12;11(11):CD010156. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010156.pub3. PMID: 34767649; PMCID: PMC8589461.

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¹¹ Zhang M, Zhang Y, Terkeltaub R, Chen C, Neogi T. Effect of Dietary and Supplemental Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Risk of Recurrent Gout Flares. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019 Sep;71(9):1580-1586. doi: 10.1002/art.40896. Epub 2019 Aug 1. PMID: 30908893; PMCID: PMC6717014.

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