Seafood is an important source of food in many cultures thanks to its nutritional value, such as high-quality proteins, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Still, there are some difficulties in this case for people who suffer from gout, for example, seafood has different degrees of purines. Purines are substances that exist in several foods and drinks, when metabolized in the body they are converted to uric acid which accumulates in the joint and leads to gout symptoms when taken in large proportions.
What Are Purines?
Purines, found in plants and animals, are essential for DNA and RNA formation. Excessive uric acid levels can cause gout attacks, so regulating purine consumption is crucial for those with gout or hyperuricemia.
Purine Content and Squid
Squid refers to calamari and the most consumed sea foods available in restaurants through grilling, frying, or in soups and salads. It appears that it is sheltered from three classes of nutrients of concern, which include Vitamin D, calcium, and potassium but it contains high levels of purine.
Squid can be considered to be in the moderate range of high-purine food, with an average of 135-150mg/100g. Purine contents of food mean the number of purine per 100 grams of food; any food containing above 200 mg of purine content is considered high in purine hence not among the highest purine content foods but rather the low range but still HIGH in purine contents is the squid. Still, it is not in the low-purine category either and that is any less than 50 milligrams per 100 grams.
Advantages of Squid with Purine Content
Squid has moderate amounts of purines, it has many nutritional benefits that could be of great help in a balanced diet.
1. High in Lean Protein
Squid is also very rich in lean protein, which plays an important role in muscles’ repairing and building as well as a body’s general functioning. Squid is highly recommended for persons who want to increase their intake of high-quality protein since this nu