You can maintain a healthy life by exercising, maintaining good hygiene, and keeping a clean environment. But what if your food, like cheese, mar your health? Is cheese high in purines?
Cheese is not high in purine, but some cheeses may contain more than others. Note that cheese is generally not considered a major dietary source of purines compared to certain foods. However, if you have a history of gout or kidney stones, you may want to limit your intake of certain types of cheese.
Purines are natural compounds found in many foods, including some types of cheese. In this article, you’ll learn more about purine in cheeses and which ones you should avoid.
What Is The Purine Content Of Cheese?
In a 100g serving, the purine content in cheese is not up to 100mg. The purine content in cheeses varies, and some cheeses have zero purine. Cottage and mozzarella cheese are low in purine and can be eaten by people at risk of developing a disease from excess purine.
Goat cheese and blue cheese are high in purine. Therefore, you should not consume them if you have gout or other purine-related diseases. Although purine can be found in the body and almost all foods, excess purine is not ideal. Hence, you must know the purine content of the foods you eat.
Purines are usually converted to uric acid in the body. Excess purine in the body will result in more uric acid. This can result in gout – an inflammation that causes joint pain. Kidney stones may also result from high uric acid in the body. If you are diagnosed with any purine-related disease, you will be advised to reduce its intake.
Do All Cheese Have Low Purine Content? Cheeses With Low Purine
No, not all cheeses have low purine. Although cheeses contain low purine relative to other foods, some have more purine than others. The ideal way to eat cheese is to eat it in moderation. Eating too much cheese is not advisable, especially if you already have hyperuricemia tendencies.
Examples of cheeses with low purine are mozzarella and cottage cheese. Generally, ensure that all your foods combinations are not high in purine. Avoid organ meat, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, sardines, beans, bacon, etc. Instead, consume more nuts, pasta, bread, yogurt, and low-fat dairy products, including cheese and milk.
Is Cheese Suitable For A Low Purine Diet? Low Purine Diet Recipes
Yes, cheese is suitable for a low-purine diet. This is because cheese is a low-fat dairy product and does not increase uric acid in the body. If you are on a low-purine diet, you should eat more vegetables and whole grains. Gout and kidney stones can make a person go on a low-purine diet.
The low-purine diet reduces uric acid and is healthy for you, particularly if you have been diagnosed with kidney stones, arthritis, or gout. The low-purine recipe is about eating foods with zero or low purine content. This means you should avoid foods that have low purine content.
Below is a list of low-purine recipes.
1. Cheese Pasta Recipes
This is a simple low-purine recipe you can follow.
- Large onion (one)
- Cheddar cheese (1/4 pound)
- Pasta (4 cups)
- Milk (1 ½ cups)
- Butter (4 tablespoons)
- Salt and pepper
2. Grilled Or Baked Chicken Breast
This is a simple chicken recipe for spicing your chicken the low-purine way.
- Chicken breast
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Any herb of your choice
3. Roasted Vegetable Frittata
A healthy low-purine recipe with vegetables reduces uric acid and improves your general health. You can prepare for either breakfast or brunch. It suits mother’s day, picnics, family get together, or father’s day. You can store leftovers in the fridge for at least five days.
- Red onion (one large size)
- Bell peppers (two)
- Large zucchini
- Garlic (two gloves)
- Avocado oil (one tablespoon)
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- Eggs (one dozen)
- Whole milk (quarter cup)
- coconut oil (optional)
4. Rice And Vermicelli recipe
If you are on a low-purine diet, you can prepare delicious rice and vermicelli.
- Rice (one cup)
- Vermicelli (1/2 cup)
- Butter (four tablespoons)
- Ground cinnamon (1/4 teaspoon)
- Black pepper (¼ teaspoon)
- Pinch of salt
5. Macaroni And Tomato salad
This is an interesting recipe if you are on a low-purine diet. Below is what you need.
- Tomatoes (4 medium sizes)
- Macaroni (3 cups)
- Minced garlic (3 gloves)
- Basil leaves (½ cup)
- Olive oil (4 tablespoons)
- Vinegar (2 tablespoons)
- Pinch of salt and pepper
6. Chicken Or Eggplant Parmigiana
Another low-purine recipe you can have is the chicken or eggplant parmigiana.
- Boneless chicken breast (three)
- Parmesan (two tablespoons)
- Melted butter (four tablespoons)
- Slices of mozzarella (a little on each chicken breast).
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Marinara sauce (1/4 cup)
- Breadcrumbs (1\4 cup)
7. Vegetable Lasagna
You can prepare this low-purine lasagna for yourself and your family
- Zucchini
- Lasagna noodles
- Grated parmesan
- Shredded mozzarella
- Ricotta cheese
- Yellow squash
- Red bell pepper
- Marinara sauce
- Eggs
- Garlic
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Basil
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Note: The quantities to use in this recipe will be according to your discretion and the size of your lasagna noodles.
What Foods Are Low In Purine?
You must know foods that are low in purine so that you can have a Examples of some foods you can include are:
- Rice
- Bread
- Fruits
- Pasta
- Olive oil
- Cocoa
- Legumes
- Greek yogurt (low fat)
- Avocado
- Nuts and seeds
- Peanut butter
- Herbs and spices
- Cereals
- Cheese (low fat)
- Eggs
- Potatoes
- Coffee or tea
- Sweet potatoes
- A cup of legumes daily
- Vegetables like red ball peppers, lettuce, carrot, eggplants, etc.
- Skim milk
Foods That Are High In Purine
You know some foods you can eat on a purine diet. How about the ones you should not eat? Below is a list of foods you should not eat on a purine diet.
- Organ meat like liver and kidney
- Alcoholic beverages
- French fries
- Biscuits, muffins, and pancakes because they contain fat and are processed.
- Bacon, lamb, pork, and beef.
- Yeast and yeast extract
- Haddock, codfish, and tuna.
- Turkey
- Sardines, mussels, and scallops.
- Game meats
Conclusion
Some cheeses are higher in purine than others, but you can have low-fat ones in your low-purine diet. However, consider your purine intake if you have gouts or any excess purine-related disease, as excess consumption can lead to serious health conditions.
