In the previous blog, we discussed what hyperuricemia is. What causes it? And how it affects our body.Moving ahead, the specialists at Capitol Hospital will discuss the cardiovascular risk associated with hyperuricemia and how it affects the heart.
CARDIOVASCULAR RISK
In the past decades or so, many researchers and scientists started researching on hyperuricemia and the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This apparently has arisen quite a stir in the medical community.
Increase in uric acid levels along with hypertension has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
Studies have found that people having heart diseases have augmented concentration of uric acid. Alone hyperuricemia may not be considered as a dangerous risk because the debate about that is still undergoing. The test subjects involved in the studies had obesity, diabetes, and hypertension along with hyperuricemia. Due to the confounding factors involved, a viable conclusion couldn’t be made about hyperuricemia and its individual role as a cardiovascular risk factor.
But hypertension clubbed with hyperuricemia is a different story altogether.The patients who suffer from higher blood pressure and elevated uric acid levels are more prone to cardiovascular diseases as compared to people with no increased concentration of uric acid and blood pressure.
INSULIN RESISTANCE AND DIABETES
Intake of carbonated beverages may lead to an increase in the concentration of uric acid.Elevated uric acid leads to insulin resistance. Insulin Resistance is a condition in which body develops a resistance to the hormone insulin.This resistance results in an increase in blood sugar levels.Uric acid precedes insulin resistance and diabetes.
WHAT NOT TO EAT?
There are few of the foods which tend to increase our already increased levels of uric acid.They should be avoided. Few are mentioned below.
- Whole pulses like masur, rajmah, chole, chana etc should be avoided as they increase the concentration of uric acid.
- Curd
- Junk food and high-calorie food should be kept as an occasional treat because overweight plays a part in augmenting uric acid levels.
- Seafood and meat should be avoided as they have high purine levels.
WHAT TO EAT?
Following food are few of the good choices you can have to regulate the uric acid levels in your body.
- Green Tea has many antioxidants which are responsible for the production of enzymes that can reduce the levels of uric acid in the body.
- Diet rich in fiber should be eaten. You can include oats, whole grain foods to lower the uric acid level.The fiber helps absorb the uric acid and hence eliminate it from the body.
- Cherries, berries, cucumber, and carrots are some of the other choices you can go with to reduce and regulate the uric acid.
Manage your weight within the BMI levels, eat healthy and nutritious food to stay fit.