What is uric acid?

Uric acid on your report

Often listed as serum uric acid in mg/dL.

• Labs print their own range, often with different limits for women and men.
• Check your report and discuss it with your doctor.

What uric acid tells your doctor

When uric acid builds up, it can form sharp crystals in and around joints and cause gout, a very painful swelling, often in the big toe. It can also lead to kidney stones.

High uric acid often shows up alongside:

• extra weight
• metabolic syndrome
• high blood pressure
• kidney problems

Not everyone with a high level gets symptoms, though.

What moves your uric acid

Limit the foods most linked to high uric acid:

• red meat
• organ meats like liver
• some seafood such as prawns and sardines
• drinks sweetened with sugar or fructose

Alcohol of all kinds raises it, so less is better.

Habits that help:

• Drink enough water through the day.
• Build meals around dals, vegetables, whole grains, milk and dahi.
• Lose weight slowly if you carry extra.

Some medicines affect it, so talk to your doctor.