In our daily lives, many seemingly healthy choices can quietly endanger our physical health. A 32-year-old woman experienced a health alert that saw her uric acid level rise from 217 to a staggering 510 liters in just six months! This is not only a medical record, but also a health sign worthy of our attention. Her case sheds light on an important question: what we think of as "healthy eating" may be hiding potential risks.
Xiaofang is a young woman who enjoys an energetic life. Xiaofang is only 32 years old, works hard, lives an orderly life, and always thinks that she has a healthy lifestyle. However, one day she suddenly felt pain in her ankle and was unable to walk, which bothered her.
Xiaofang went to the doctor, who recommended a full physical examination. To Xiaofang's surprise, the results of the physical examination showed that her uric acid level had soared to an astonishing 510 micromoles per liter, far exceeding the normal range. This gave her a serious warning that elevated uric acid can lead to serious health problems.
The doctor carefully inquired about Xiaofang's eating habits, hoping to find out the cause of the spike in uric acid. Xiao Fang likes to eat fruits, especially cherries and persimmons. She thought these fruits were a healthy choice, but she didn't know the "fructose dilemma" in them.
Doctors told Fang that consuming too much fructose-rich fruits could lead to elevated uric acid levels. Xiao Fang was shocked when she heard this, she never thought that eating fruit would have a negative impact on her health.
Doctors explain that fructose increases the production of uric acid when metabolized in the body, especially certain fruits, such as cherries and persimmons, contain higher concentrations of fructose.
Xiaofang pondered her eating habits for the past six months, and she realized that she had consumed a lot of cherries and persimmons every day, thinking that it was a healthy choice, but she didn't know that this was the reason for the elevated uric acid. She deeply regrets and realizes that even seemingly harmless foods need to be consumed in moderation.
The doctor gave Xiaofang advice on adjusting her eating habits. Xiaofang began to reduce her intake of cherries and persimmons, adding a greater variety of vegetables and whole grains. She learned to eat a reasonable diet and control her uric acid intake, hoping to improve her health.
Over time, Xiaofang's uric acid levels gradually returned to normal, and her ankles no longer felt pain. This experience made Xiaofang realize the importance of a healthy diet, and she began to pay more attention to the composition and intake of her food, hoping to maintain her health.
High uric acid may manifest as joint pain, especially in the joints of the feet, such as the ankle or big toe, which can feel swollen, painful, or warm. Some people may have a gout attack, with red, swollen, hot and painful joints, and even difficulty walking.
In addition, high uric acid can also cause kidney problems, such as frequent urination, blood in the urine or kidney stones. Some people may experience skin problems such as itching or rashes. High uric acid may also be associated with cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, or an increased risk of stroke.
Sometimes, high uric acid may cause feelings of general discomfort such as fatigue, headaches, nausea, or loss of appetite. High uric acid is not just a joint problem and can trigger health risks for multiple systems throughout the body, so it's important to stay on top of your uric acid levels and keep them under control.
The normal uric acid value varies depending on the sex. In general, normal uric acid levels should be between 150-360 micromol/L for adult women and between 210-420 μmol/L for adult men. When uric acid falls outside of this normal range, attention is needed. If high uric acid is accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time and receive professional medical guidance and treatment.
Some foods can cause uric acid to rise, especially those that are high in purines. High-purine foods include organ meats (e.g., liver, kidneys), red meat (e.g., beef, pork), seafood (e.g., shrimp, crab, shellfish), and some meat products (e.g., broth, pâté). Consuming too much of these foods may increase the production of uric acid in the body.
In addition, certain fruits may also cause uric acid to rise, especially those rich in fructose. For example, cherries and persimmons, although highly nutritious, contain higher concentrations of fructose, and consuming too much may increase uric acid levels.
Alcohol is also one of the main culprits of elevated uric acid, especially beer. The alcohol and yeast in beer promote the production of uric acid in the body, so drinking too much alcohol can also lead to increased uric acid levels.
In addition, consuming too much sugar may also affect uric acid levels. For example, high-fructose corn syrup in soft drinks can be converted into purines and uric acid in the body, which can lead to elevated uric acid.