Should you avoid beans if you have gout?

Although beans and lentils were initially included in the list of foods to avoid by gout patients, studies show that vegetables high in purines do not increase the risk of recurring gout attacks, notes Mayo Clinic. Other permitted high-purine vegetables include asparagus, spinach, peas, cauliflower and mushrooms.

A person suffering from gout needs to avoid organ meats, such as liver and kidneys, and some types of seafood, including anchovies, sardines, scallops, tuna and herring, all of which are high in purines. Alcohol, particularly beer, is linked to an increased risk of gout, since its metabolism leads to increased uric acid production, according to Mayo Clinic.