Foods to avoid if you have gout

Q. I have gout and need to avoid foods with purine. How do I know which foods have purine?

A. Unfortunately, The USDA does not include purine in the nutritional analysis of foods because this amino acid is not essential for health and is not considered a nutrient. 

But knowing the purine content of foods is very important to those with gout, a painful condition caused by a build-up of uric acid in the joints and tissues.  People with gout are usually advised to eat a low-purine diet, which can help reduce uric acid build-up, thereby reducing pain and swelling.

Foods high in purine include mushrooms, liver and other organ meats, and certain types of fish.  Here's a more extensive list of foods and their purine content.