My friend loves shrimp but has gout. That’s a problem because shrimp contain purine, which can cause joint inflammation that gout sufferers liken to the pain of being bitten by a dog. However, if you go to Beamie’s at the River for dinner with this guy, he will order a shrimp cocktail, fried shrimp, and maybe a cup of shrimp gumbo to boot. After the meal, he walks out with spring in his step and a smile on his face.
What’s the story? He claims the imported shrimp served in other restaurants is loaded with purine, whereas Beamie’s shrimp from Florida leaves him feeling fine. I’m neither a rheumatologist nor an authority on shrimp farming, but experts say that all shrimp from everywhere have enough purine to exacerbate gout; any elevation in purine levels comes from shellfish spending too much time in transit. Nor am I a hedonologist, but I have to wonder if the joy my friend gets from his gout-be-damned meals is less due to the shrimps’ place of origin than to the fact that Beamie’s is a very happy restaurant. It is hard to imagine walking out in any sort of pain.
