High uric acid levels may be caused by a number factors, according to Mayo Clinic, including some medications, and illnesses and conditions such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia and hypothyroidism. Genetics may also play a role. Uric acid is the byproduct of purines, found in various foods. If your uric acid is high, your doctor may adjust your medications and may want you to avoid certain foods and to eat others, as well as to take certain vitamins.

Foods

Organ meats, including sweetbread--the thymus glands of young pork, beef and lamb--and hearts, livers, kidneys and brains are all high in purines, as are beef and beef broth, according to the University of Michigan's Healthwise Knowledegebase. Some fish, shellfish and seafoods have a lot of purines in them as well, including anchovies, sardines, herring, caviar, scallops and shrimp. Additionally, dried bean and bean products, and yeast and yeast extracts are high-purine foods. Refined sugars, including white table sugar, and fructose, which is found in many foods, are also troublesome for people who need to lower their uric acid levels. Doctors usually tell people who suffer from gout and other conditions related to high uric acid levels to avoid these foods and foods made from them, such as pate, soup, breads and some souffles.

Alcohol

Mayo Clinic and the Healthwise Knowledgebase point out that alcohol, which has a good deal of sugar and yeast in it, contributes to high uric acid levels. Beer may be a particular problem. Limiting yourself to one drink per day may help.

Vitamins

Vitamin C may lower uric acid levels. The Healthwise database looks at various studies, one in which participants took 8 g of vitamin C per day for several days and another in which participants took only 500 mg a day for two months. Both groups had lower uric acid levels as a result. However, the site cautions against suddenly taking large amounts of vitamin C, because doing so could trigger a gout attack. Folic acid and vitamin B12 may or may not lower uric acid, the Healthwise database says. Some research suggests that it does, but other research has not confirmed that.

Cherries

Cherries may reduce your levels of uric acid. Dr. Naomi Schlesinger of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey says that "fruits, such as cherries, and high intakes of vegetable protein may reduce serum urate levels." Likewise, the Healthwise database recommends eating 1/2 lb. of cherries a day, citing a 1950 study and anecdotal evidence.

Black Tea

Drinking black tea is another way to lower uric acid. The National Institutes of Health cites a promising University of Mauritius study that indicates drinking 3 cups of black tea daily can significantly reduce uric acid levels.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: High Uric Acid Levels

Univeristy of Michigan: Healthwise Knowledgebase, Gout

Epicurious.com: Food Dictionary, Sweetbreads

More Information:

Mayo Clinic: High Uric Acid--Causes

National Institutes of Health: Black Tea Reduces Uric Acid

National Institutes of Health: Dietary Factors and Hyperuricaemia.