During digestion the human body breaks down purines, a compound present in protein sources, such as meat, seafood, and poultry. Purines must be broken down to release proteins and other nutrients in a form that the human body can absorb. During purine digestion, a byproduct called uric acid is produced.What Does Uric Acid Do?In normal levels, uric acid is a helpful compound in the body. Uric acid serves as an antioxidant, providing beneficial effects to the lining of blood vessels. Excess uric should be processed by the kidneys and excreted as urine. If this does not happen properly, or if uric acid levels are too high, it can cause damage. The most common problem associated with high uric acid levels is gout, a painful Arthritis condition. Gout can be debilitating if not properly treated, and reducing uric acid is of utmost importance.What Causes High Uric Acid Levels?As noted above, it is the kidneys' job to process and excrete excess uric acid. There are two reasons why kidneys may not be able to effectively process uric acid within the body. First, if the kidneys are unhealthy, they may not be capable of effectively filtering this compound from the blood. Alternatively, eating a diet that is high in purines can result in an excess of uric acid that even healthy kidneys cannot effectively filter out.Reducing Uric Acid LevelsNo matter what the cause of high uric acid levels, it is important to reduce this number to a healthy level. As noted above, excess levels of uric acid can cause inflammation in the form of gout. The primary way to reduce uric acid levels it to limit the consumption of high-purine foods. This includes red meat, poultry, and seafood. The consumption of alcohol should also be reduced, as this is known to reduce the body's ability to process uric acid. Finally, patients should drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day to help the kidneys flush excess uric acid from the bloodstream. Following these guidelines with doctor supervision should help lower levels of uric acid.