Figs and gout is the 88th topic in the top gout searches series, described in Gout and You. Figs are a delicious food, often associated with an alkalizing gout diet menu. Before I discuss that, I need to clarify a specific link between figs and gout.
Some time ago, when reviewing how morin is helpful to gout sufferers, I started trying to find the best food sources for morin. I have some useful news about morin, but I cannot find anything meaningful about food sources. Though many gout studies associate morin with figs, those that do reveal sources always refer to extracts from mulberry bark. There are one or two studies into morin extracts from fig leaves, but nothing so far about the fruit. I believe the confusion may arise because mulberry and fig belong to the same plant group. Indeed, the wide range of plants in the Moraceae family are often called the fig family or mulberry family. I will stop associating fig fruit with morin unless I find real evidence that it is a useful source. I will report the morin news separately. Meanwhile, back to figs…
Dried figs are often viewed as highly alkalizing. This is one of the dangers of comparing foods based on 100g portion sizes. Nobody eats 100 grams of dried figs. This was one reason why all my recent tables are based on 100 calories servings. It is still not perfect, as many beverages and spices produce outrageously large portion sizes. However, energy-based portions are easier to compare than weight-based portions.
Are Figs Good for Gout?
You can compare 100 calorie servings for key nutrients in my gout foods tables. Please read the Gout Foods Tables Introduction before you consult those tables. It is important that you understand how the key nutrients affect you and your gout.
Figs do not feature in the USDA Key Foods list. However, because of their popularity among gout sufferers, I have added them to the Gout Foods Table for Fruit. As you can see from that table, figs are remarkably similar, whether raw, dried, or stewed, and remarkably average.
Top Alkalizing Key Foods
As dried figs have caused confusion regarding alkalizing diet, I have produced an extra table of top alkalizing foods. This shows the foods from all relevant food groups in a single table, ordered by PRAL.
Even though figs are not particularly special, they can still help you create menus that are interesting. If you like figs, there is no reason to miss them as part of a well-balanced diet.
Figs and Your Gout
Which aspects of figs and gout are you interested in? How do you think eating figs might help or hinder your gout? Please tell me your figs and gout story in the comments below.
I'm working on templates that help you identify, understand, and resolve your gouty concerns about figs. In the meantime, you can start by adding notes about what you've learned about figs and gout so far.
All you do is highlight any text that interests you. Then click "Annotations" to personalize any GoutPal page. Which means you can keep your figs and gout notes linked here, where you can always find them.
Do you need help with annotations? Or other unanswered questions or unresolved concerns? Then please ask in the Gout Forum.
Leave Figs and Gout to browse the Gout Foods guidelines. Or return to Gout Progression Phase 1: Gout Causes.
Figs and Gout Comments
GoutPal visitor responses and associated research include:
Figs and Uric Acid
Emma asked if I had any news about the effects of figs on uric acid. So I’m pleased to report that there is some new science. But it is still lab-based rather than studying human gout sufferers.
There are some studies that show uric acid reduction in mice, rats, and rabbits from extracts of fig leaves. But the most interesting study concerns fig fruit extract testing against allopurinol[1]. In fact, the study also includes carob and acorn. However, I will explain that more when I do a full review.
For now, I’ve changed the featured image here to reflect the fig fruit outcomes of this study. Because I find it very interesting how fig fruit extract compares with allopurinol. So it is not as effective. But still inhibits xanthine oxidase activity by up to 40%.
Lab tests like this are a long way from providing practical guidance on the amount of fig fruit required to reduce uric acid. But they give us a strong indication that figs are good for gout. Interestingly, while checking this research, I noticed similar indications for dates. That is, the fruit of the date palm.
As time allows, I will do a more thorough review of uric acid reduction from figs, dates, and related fruits. So if you want to be notified when I publish new facts, please subscribe to my free newsletter using the link below.
Figs and Gout Related Topics
Please remember: to find more related pages that are relevant to you, it's usually faster to search for your biggest gouty concern about figs.
Dates and Gout
Earlier, I mentioned dates in a comment about figs and uric acid. Which has prompted thousands of gout sufferers to look here for dates and gout information. So I need to find out more about your specific concerns. In order to make my information relevant to your gout recovery. Because there is not much research available.
Anyway, I will seek more facts from research into dates and gout. At the same time, you can explain your situation using your feedback options above.
In particular, I need to know the phase of your gout progression that is causing your concerns. For example, you could tell me how you are affected by any of the following:
Has eating too many dates caused your gout during Phase 1: Gout Causes?
How does eating dates change Phase 2: Gout Symptoms?
Do dates affect Phase 3: Gout Pain Relief?
Can you eat dates during Phase 5: Start Uric Acid Cure?
How many dates are bad for gout during Phase 6: Adjust Uric Acid Cure?
But don't worry about phases for now. Just comment with your questions, experiences, and opinions about dates and gout.
Are Dates Good for Gout?
The most important concern for gout sufferers, in general, seems to be, "are dates good for gout". But we still need to split that question into, "are dates good for gout pain," and, "are dates good for uric acid". Besides which, even if they're not especially good for gout, I haven't found anything particularly bad about them. So I'll start collecting recipes for dates that I can include in the Gout Foundation Eating Patterns.
If you have favorite date recipes that you'd like me to analyze, please share them in feedback above.
Figs and Gout References
- Amessis-Ouchemoukh, N., Ouchemoukh, S., Meziant, N., Idiri, Y., Hernanz, D., Stinco, C.M., Rodríguez-Pulido, F.J., Heredia, F.J., Madani, K. and Luis, J., 2017. Bioactive metabolites involved in the antioxidant, anticancer and anticalpain activities of Ficus carica L., Ceratonia siliqua L. and Quercus ilex L. extracts. Industrial Crops and Products, 95, pp.6-17.
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