Barley
Grains — purine content 47mg per 100g
Low Purine
47
mg/100g
Yes — low purine; portion size still counts.
Diet Advice
Barley measures about 47mg of purine per 100g in the China Food Composition Tables — just under the 50mg/100g threshold for low-purine foods. Whole grains such as barley are a recommended staple on a gout diet.
Recommended Preparation
Cook in soups and stews, or use it as a rice substitute. Soaking before boiling shortens the cooking time.
Data source: Yang YX, China Food Composition Tables (6th ed.) 2019. Purine value: 47mg per 100g of Barley (Low purine, green zone).
See the full purine food classification table for all 142 foods, or read the low purine diet guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Barley: is it high in purines?
Barley: 47mg of purines per 100g, well inside the low-purine band (under 50mg/100g) used on this site. That makes it a comfortable everyday choice in a gout-friendly diet, though portion size and the rest of the plate still count.
Can I eat Barley during a gout flare?
Yes. At 47mg per 100g the purine load is well inside the low band, so there is no need to leave Barley out during a flare. Light meals and enough fluid matter more here than avoiding a food like this.
What are the best low-purine alternatives to Barley?
There is little to substitute here: the purine content already sits in the low band, so the aim is variety rather than replacement. Other low-purine options include tofu, low-fat dairy and most vegetables.