A rather peculiar disease, gout these days evokes thoughts of old Henry VIII and medieval medical treatments. But it does still exist today, and people who suffer from it can testify to how incredibly painful it is. A severe form of arthritis, gout is caused by an excess of uric acid, which creates crystals around joints, the Mayo Clinic says.

“Crystals” may not sound like that big a deal — but they are no joke. Uric acid buildups are mostly caused by high levels of purine, which in turn are brought about by what some people would call a lavish lifestyle. Here are a few ways to counteract high intakes of purine.

Meats, refined carbs, fructose, and yeast are all responsible for high purine intakes, LiveStrong indicates. As such, consumption of sodas and fruit juices should be limited, and so should beer. “Organ meats,” such as liver and kidneys, should be avoided as well, Mayo Clinic recommends — seafood too, such as sardines, anchovies and mussels.

Top 10 Home Remedies suggests a number of natural foods that you can take to counteract the effects of gout. Cherries rank highly among them, thanks to their high levels in antioxidants and anthocyanins, which help reduce inflammation. Apples and bananas are also recommended, as they both contain compounds capable of getting rid of uric acid: Malic acid in apples neutralizes uric acid, while the potassium contents in bananas will liquefy the crystals and flush them out.