Soybeans

Legumes — purine content 190mg per 100g

High Purine

190

mg/100g

No — dried whole soybeans are high in purine and most guidance leaves them out. Processed soy foods are far lower and are the better choice.

Diet Advice

Dried whole soybeans measure around 190mg of purine per 100g, well into the high-purine range. Processing removes most of that: tofu comes in under 30mg/100g and soy milk is lower still. Enjoy soy as tofu, tempeh or soy milk rather than as whole dried beans.

Recommended Preparation

Choose tofu, tempeh or soy milk instead of whole dried soybeans. If whole soybeans are eaten at all, keep the portion small, cook them in plenty of water, discard the cooking liquid, and avoid them during a flare.

Low Purine Alternatives

Tofu (28mg)

More Foods in This Category

Tofu

Edamame

Tempeh

Chickpeas

Data source: USDA FoodData Central; Yang YX, China Food Composition Tables (6th ed.) 2019; Annals of Internal Medicine 2012 (Appendix Table 1). Purine value: 190mg per 100g of Soybeans (High purine, red zone).

See the full purine food classification table for all 142 foods, or read the low purine diet guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Soybeans: is it high in purines?

Soybeans: 190mg of purines per 100g, above the 150mg/100g cut-off used on this site. High-purine foods are the ones most consistently linked to higher uric acid, so this is usually a small, occasional serving, and left out during a flare.

Can I eat Soybeans during a gout flare?

During a flare most guidance is to leave Soybeans out. At 190mg per 100g it sits well above the low-purine cut-off, and flares are when purine intake is kept lowest. Small amounts can return once symptoms settle.

What are the best low-purine alternatives to Soybeans?

Lower-purine options to use in place of Soybeans include: Tofu. They offer comparable nutrition at a much lower purine content, which makes a balanced diet easier to hold together.