How Uric Acid Disrupts Your Metabolic Health

Dr. Perlmutter shares a startling research study: In 2009, researchers followed a group of 90,000 people for eight years. They measured participants’ uric acid at the beginning of the study and found with people who had a level of seven or greater, their risk of dying (from any illness) increased by 16 percent. The risk of death from cardiovascular issues increased by 39 percent and risk of death from stroke increased by 35 percent.

Alcohol, purines (breakdown product of DNA and RNA in foods) and fructose (the kind of sugar found in processed foods) are the three main sources of uric acid. Since the days of our primate ancestors, we’ve lost the ability to break down uricase, so what we choose to consume makes a big difference.

“If we can emulate those signals to our DNA and our physiology that have evolved to keep us healthy,” Dr. Perlmutter says, “we’re going a long way to offsetting these incredibly powerful metabolic disruptions that are paving the way for the biggest cause of disease on our planet.”

His newest book, “Drop Acid: The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid—The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health,” includes ways to measure, control and track your uric acid levels and key strategies to manage them.

You’ll find out the top five foods that raise uric acid (hint: fructose earns the No. 1 spot). You’ll also find out the five important supplements to take to lower your uric acid levels back into a healthy range.