26 Foods That You Should Avoid If You Have Gout

2. Sugary Drinks

Sugary drinks are those that include added sugars or sweeteners. Soda and other carbonated soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit-flavored or powdered beverages, vitamin-enhanced drinks, and sweetened tea and coffee drinks are examples of sugary drinks. Sugar is also present in chocolate milk and other milk replacements. The added sugar in these drinks adds calories but little to no nutrients. Sugary drinks (also known as sugar-sweetened beverages or “soft” drinks) are any beverages that have added sugar or other sweeteners (high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, fruit juice concentrates, and more). Soda, pop, cola, tonic, fruit punch, lemonade (and other “ades”), sweetened powdered drinks, and sports and energy drinks are all included. These beverages are the single highest source of calories and added sugar in the American diet. Sugary drink consumption is increasing substantially in other regions of the world, notably in emerging countries, as a result of extensive urbanization and beverage marketing.