Cucumbers for Gout

Gout occurs when you have too much uric acid in your bloodstream, resulting in the buildup of painful uric acid crystals in your joints. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of substances called purines, which are found in many foods. Therefore, part of the treatment for gout is following a low-purine diet and drinking plenty of water. Because cucumbers are low in purines and high in water, they can potentially play an important role in fighting gout.

A woman is slicing a cucumber. (Image: ladi59/iStock/Getty Images)

Cucumbers and Purines

Cucumbers are very low in purines, containing only 7.3 milligrams of purines in every 100 grams of the vegetable. In comparison, high-purine foods contain over 200 milligrams of purines in every 100 grams, such as the 411 milligrams of purines in 100 grams of anchovies. As a result, cucumbers are ideal for a low-purine, gout-preventing diet.

Water Content

Water helps to flush uric acid from your body. As a result, drinking plenty of water helps prevent the buildup of uric acid that creates gout symptoms. Water accounts for over 95 percent of their weight, so cucumbers can boost your daily water intake significantly.