Water is your best friend when it comes to gout, but there other beverage options that may also be beneficial. As a rule of thumb, try to avoid sugary drinks or alcoholic beverages – especially beer as it contains the most purines.
As for me, I drink alcohol. And because I regularly consume alcohol, it makes me more prone to gout flare ups than someone that doesn’t drink or occasionally drinks. But here’s my advice to you if you drink alcohol and willing to accept the risk: Drink lots of water during and after your drinking session. I think in the past I’ve had more flare ups because I wasn’t drinking enough water. I would go through an entire night without drinking a single cup of water. Now that I do drink more water, I can feel the difference then and now. There’s been times when I feel like I avoided a flare up because I stayed hydrated and I was going to the bathroom more frequently to flush out the uric acid.
| Good for Gout | Bad for Gout |
|---|---|
| Water | Alcohol - especially Beer |
| Milk | Sodas and Juices with High Fructose Corn Syrup |
| Coconut Water | Energy drinks |
| Coffee - black | |
| Tea | |
| Pure fruit juice | |
| Smoothies | |
| Red wine |