Gout is a type of arthritic disease caused by a build up of uric acid in the body. Due to this excess of uric acid in the body, uric acid crystals form in the joints and the surrounding tissues, making them extremely painful and inflamed. This inflammation and debilitating pain is the main symptom of gout; it most commonly affects the big toe, but also affects other joints such as the ankles and knees, as well as the wrists, fingers, and spine. Often, the swelling, pain, and stiffness of the joints occurs suddenly, in the form of an unexpected attack that lasts for a few days.
The chief method of handling gout is diet control - there is no real cure for the disease, and the only treatments available are those that fight the pain. Like all pain medication however, the effectiveness of these treatments is limited, and is usually also accompanied by some unwanted side effects. As you are probably aware, probably the main consideration in diet control is purine. This is a substance that is produced by the body but is also obtained from food, and has a major effect on the levels of uric acid in the body.
Gout patients are usually advised to limit their intake of foods that are high in purines, particularly animal sources. Although red meat is particularly bad, other meats including fish are also to be avoided. Salmon however seems to be an exception, and this is probably because of the high levels omega 3 fatty acids it contains. This helps fight the inflammation that is caused by gout attacks, and therefore seems to outweigh the harm caused by purines. On the other hand, if you are eating salmon only because of the fatty acids, there are better sources, such as flax seed. Coming to nuts - they are harmless, and might be beneficial too, as most nuts are high in omega 3 fatty acids.
answered by M W