Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWine and GoutOther Types of Alcohol and GoutPreventing Gout FlaresFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Wine and Gout

Other Types of Alcohol and Gout

Preventing Gout Flares

Frequently Asked Questions

Many substances can trigger or lead to gout symptoms, including certain medications, foods containing a chemical called purine, and drinking alcohol, including wine.

Learn about gout, how wine and other types of alcohol can affect this condition, and more.

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Older man holding up his wine glass to make a toast at an outside gathering.

Drinking wine, especially red wine, is thought to have health benefits, such as a possible decrease in the risk ofheart disease.However, there is contradictory research, and drinking wine may impact people and medical conditions differently. People with gout are advised to limit their intake of foods high in purines, a chemical known to lead to gout attacks called flares and increase symptoms. Purines are found in wine and other types of alcohol.

Foods to Eat and Avoid With Gout

People with gout are advised to limit or completely avoid drinking alcohol, including wine, because it can trigger flares and make symptoms worse.

All types ofalcoholincrease the risk of goutflares, times when symptoms worsen.For this reason, people with gout should limit or completely avoid drinking alcohol. However, some types of alcohol may have more of an impact than others.

Gout symptoms can come and go, with phases of very mild or no symptoms called remission and phases offlares.To manage symptoms and prevent flares, people with gout can avoid alcohol, eatfoods low in purines, and drink plenty of water.

Tips to Prevent Gout FlaresAvoid drinking all types of alcohol.Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.Eat a well-balanced diet low in purines, including fruits, nuts, most vegetables, and rice.Exercise regularly, and focus onlow-impactoptions during flares.Maintain a healthy weight.Set aside time for relaxation and tomanage stress.Talk to a healthcare professional about medications that may increase the risk of gout.Treat other health conditions that may occur with gout.

Tips to Prevent Gout Flares

Avoid drinking all types of alcohol.Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.Eat a well-balanced diet low in purines, including fruits, nuts, most vegetables, and rice.Exercise regularly, and focus onlow-impactoptions during flares.Maintain a healthy weight.Set aside time for relaxation and tomanage stress.Talk to a healthcare professional about medications that may increase the risk of gout.Treat other health conditions that may occur with gout.

Summary

While drinking wine can have some health benefits, including a decreased risk of heart disease, research is contradictory on its benefits. Additionally, all types of alcohol, including wine, increase the risk of gout flares. People with gout are advised to limit or completely avoid all types of alcohol. Additionally, there are lifestyle choices and behaviors that can help to improve gout symptoms, such as following a low-purine diet, being physically active, and managing stress.

A Word From Verywell

Living with gout can be challenging. The pain and inflammation can be severe enough to interfere with daily life, which can impact your mental health and social well-being. If you or someone you know is experiencing gout or symptoms of gout, seek help. Treatment options and lifestyle and behavioral changes can reduce symptoms and prevent flares. Reach out to a healthcare professional such as a primary care provider or rheumatologist for support.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe amount of wine a person with gout can tolerate depends on the person and how it affects them. It is best to avoid alcohol completely. However, some people find they can tolerate small amounts, especially if it is only consumed occasionally.All types of alcohol should be avoided to prevent gout. While wine may affect gout less than beer and some other types of alcohol, it can still trigger gout flares and increase symptoms. The best thing to drink is water.There is no safe type of alcohol to drink with gout because they have all been shown to trigger attacks and increase symptoms. Wine is sometimes believed to be the least likely to lead to negative effects, but there is not enough evidence to support this claim and it is high in a chemical called purine, which leads to gout.

The amount of wine a person with gout can tolerate depends on the person and how it affects them. It is best to avoid alcohol completely. However, some people find they can tolerate small amounts, especially if it is only consumed occasionally.

All types of alcohol should be avoided to prevent gout. While wine may affect gout less than beer and some other types of alcohol, it can still trigger gout flares and increase symptoms. The best thing to drink is water.

There is no safe type of alcohol to drink with gout because they have all been shown to trigger attacks and increase symptoms. Wine is sometimes believed to be the least likely to lead to negative effects, but there is not enough evidence to support this claim and it is high in a chemical called purine, which leads to gout.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.National Health Service.Gout.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Harvard Medical School.Is red wine actually good for your heart?.Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, Chaisson C, Hunter DJ, Zhang Y.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: An internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019Wu B, Roseland JM, Haytowitz DB, Pehrsson PR, Ershow AG.Availability and quality of published data on the purine content of foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements.Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2019;84:103281. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2019.103281American Addiction Centers.Common misconceptions about alcohol.Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.National Health Service.Gout.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Harvard Medical School.Is red wine actually good for your heart?.Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, Chaisson C, Hunter DJ, Zhang Y.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: An internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019Wu B, Roseland JM, Haytowitz DB, Pehrsson PR, Ershow AG.Availability and quality of published data on the purine content of foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements.Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2019;84:103281. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2019.103281American Addiction Centers.Common misconceptions about alcohol.Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.National Health Service.Gout.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Harvard Medical School.Is red wine actually good for your heart?.Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, Chaisson C, Hunter DJ, Zhang Y.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: An internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019Wu B, Roseland JM, Haytowitz DB, Pehrsson PR, Ershow AG.Availability and quality of published data on the purine content of foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements.Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2019;84:103281. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2019.103281American Addiction Centers.Common misconceptions about alcohol.Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.

National Health Service.Gout.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.

Harvard Medical School.Is red wine actually good for your heart?.

Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, Chaisson C, Hunter DJ, Zhang Y.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: An internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019

Wu B, Roseland JM, Haytowitz DB, Pehrsson PR, Ershow AG.Availability and quality of published data on the purine content of foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements.Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. 2019;84:103281. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2019.103281

American Addiction Centers.Common misconceptions about alcohol.

Arthritis Foundation.Managing a gout flare.

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