It was the tofu that did him in....

My poor Dad has come down with a case of gout.

I drove down to Milpitas yesterday to have dinner with my parents. While I was driving down 101, my Mom called to tell me that they weren't home yet because they were at the hospital.

What!? What's wrong?

All my Mom would tell me was that everything was okay, my Dad was on crutches, but don't worry because he wasn't in a accident, and he's fine.

Thanks, Mom. That wasn't very reassuring!

My parents arrived back home just after I did. My poor Dad limped out of the car on his crutches.

That's when I got the full scoop:

He has Gout, and his doctor blamed it on the tofu and oatmeal.

What?

Now that I've done some research, I've learned that Gout can be caused by a diet high in foods with uric acids. Uric acid in normal amounts remains dissolved in the blood and easily passes through the kidneys, leaving the body as waste. However, uric acid in high amounts makes a person more likely to develop gout.

Some foods contain large amounts of uric acid, especially red meats and organ meats (such as liver and kidneys), as well as some shellfish and anchovies. Other foods that are high in protein can also contain large amounts of uric acids.

Which brings us to the tofu, and oatmeal...

While meeting with the doctor, my parents were asked what my Dad had eaten for dinner the night before. They had an uncommonly healthy dinner, and my Mom proudly announced, "Steamed Chicken, broccoli and tofu". I mean really, what could possibly be wrong with that meal?

The good news is that gout is treatable, and my Dad should be feeling better within a few days. He's on medication, and will have to watch his diet. He's going to stay off his foot through the weekend, but he should be up and about again by next week.

Gout affects more than 2 million Americans -- most commonly men between the ages of 40 and 50, people who are overweight, people who frequently drink alcohol and people who use diuretics ("water pills") to lower blood pressure or treat heart failure.

If you want to read more information about gout, here's a great article on WebMD.