Drop Acid: The Surprising New Science of Uric Acid-The Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health

by David Perlmutter MD

Overview

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Unlock the secret to extraordinary health by reducing high uric acid levels—the hidden risk you didn't know you had—by the author of Grain Brain and Brain Wash.

What do obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, neurological disorders, and premature death have in common? All can be stoked by high uric acid levels.
 
Our most respected scientific literature is bursting with evidence that elevated uric acid levels lie at the root of many pervasive health conditions, but mainstream medicine for the most part remains unaware of this connection. This is especially alarming because a large number of Americans don’t know they are suffering from increased levels, putting them at risk for developing or exacerbating potentially life-threatening illnesses.
 
Offering an engaging blend of science and practical advice, Drop Acid exposes the deadly truth about uric acid and teaches invaluable strategies to manage its levels, including how to:

• Reduce fructose and foods high in “purines” through simple dietary edits 
• Lower uric acid levels through natural hacks like consuming tart cherries, vitamin C, quercetin, and coffee
• Identify common pharmaceuticals that threaten to increase uric acid
• Implement lifestyle interventions, like restorative sleep and exercise
• Easily test your uric acid levels at home—a test routinely performed in your doctor’s office during regular check-ups but typically ignored

Featuring the groundbreaking “LUV” (Lower Uric Values) diet, 35 delicious recipes, self-assessment quizzes, and a 21-day program for dropping levels, Drop Acid empowers readers with the information they need to address this hidden danger and live longer, leaner, and healthier lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316315395
Publisher:	Little, Brown and Company
Publication date:	02/15/2022
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	69,415
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

David Perlmutter, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He is a frequent lecturer at symposia sponsored by institutions including the World Bank, Columbia University, New York University, Yale, and Harvard, and serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
 
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including: the Linus Pauling Award for his innovative approaches to neurological disorders; the National Nutritional Foods Association Clinician of the Year Award; and the Humanitarian of the Year award from the American College of Nutrition. He maintains an active blog at DrPerlmutter.com and is the author of Brain Wash, Grain Brain, Brain Maker, The Grain Brain Whole Life Plan, The Grain Brain Cookbook, and Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten.

Table of Contents

Introduction The Acid Test 3

Part I The Basics of Uric Acid

Chapter 1 U Defined

The Hidden Connection Linking Our Modern Ailments, from Diabetes to Dementia 23

Chapter 2 Survival of the Fattest

How Prehistoric Apes Hardwired Us with the Fat Gene 50

Chapter 3 The Fallacy of Fructose

How Uric Acid Amplifies the Threat 72

Chapter 4 The U-Bomb in Your Brain

The Emerging Role of Uric Acid in Brain Decline 97

Chapter 5 Acid Rain

How Sleep, Salt, Psoriasis, Seafood, and Sitting Connect with Uric Acid 112

Chapter 6 New Habits to LUV

The Acid-Dropping Power of Five Key Supplements, CGM Technology, and Time-Restricted Eating 137

Part II U-Turn: The Luv Plan of Action

Chapter 7 Prelude to LUV

Start Your Engines 163

Chapter 8 Week 1: Dietary Edits to Lower Uric Values

How to Make Over Your Metabolism on the LUV Diet 173

Chapter 9 Week 2: Companions to Luv

Sleep, Movement, Nature, and an Eating Window 201

Chapter 10 Week 3: A Sweet Opportunity

Learn to Luv and Live High 218

Chapter 11 Recipes to Luv

Breakfast 232

Lunch 242

Dinner 251

Snacks 265

Drinks 269

Epilogue 273

Acknowledgments 279

Notes 281

Index 313

Editorial Reviews

Drop Acid is the most informative, life-changing book I’ve read in years. It is undoubtedly, one of the most important books on human health this past decade and will be seen as a landmark in medicine. I’ve changed the way I live my life. A must-read.”—David Sinclair, PhD, professor, Harvard Medical School, and author of Lifespan

"Dr. Perlmutter provides us with an exciting and powerful new tool for restoring metabolic health—controlling uric acid. Drop Acid explores the fascinating science that connects elevated uric acid to a wide array of threats to our health, and more importantly, shows us how we can readily bring uric acid under control and reclaim extraordinary health."—Mark Hyman, MD, author of Food

“In Drop Acid, Dr. Perlmutter opens yet another door to unlocking your healthiest, most vibrant life with just a few proven, practical, and accessible dietary and habit shifts.”—Melissa Urban, Whole30 Co-Founder and New York Times best-selling author

“Drop Acid will change your brain and your life in more ways than you can imagine. Uric acid is the hidden killer that few were paying attention to until now.  I highly recommend this new, groundbreaking book from Dr. Perlmutter. It’s fascinating and filled with so much actionable information that will help you quickly.”—Daniel G. Amen, MD, founder of Amen Clinics and author of The End of Mental Illness

"In typically brilliant fashion, one of the most trustworthy voices in medicine today has WOWED again. With Drop Acid, Dr. David Perlmutter has paved the way for a paradigm shift in the way we address the most threatening epidemics of our time. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and Dr. Perlmutter offers scientifically supported practical advice, simple dietary changes, and natural hacks to tackle the metabolic issue underpinning obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and more. Grateful readers will learn exactly how to easily overcome unexplained weight gain and chronic conditions that have plagued them for years."—JJ Virgin, author of The Virgin Diet

"Fructose has far-reaching negative consequences for health, and Dr. Perlmutter reveals that it threatens us by increasing uric acid levels. In a thoroughly enjoyable book, he not only breaks down the dangers lurking in our diet from fructose but also gives a step-by-step guide to get other hidden sources of uric acid out of your life. As the title suggests, read this book and 'drop acid'! Your body will thank you for years to come."—Steven R. Gundry MD, author of The Plant Paradox

“Most gifted author-neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter is always ahead of the curve and scientifically accurate. In his new book, Drop Acid, Dr. Perlmutter alerts us to the surprisingly diverse ramifications of uric acid, and offers us a clear path to bringing this key metabolic parameter under control. Once again, Dr. Perlmutter’s vision will go a long way to enhancing our health and longevity.”—Dale Bredesen, MD, author of The End of Alzheimer's

“David Perlmutter, MD, empowers us to understand the overproduction of uric acid, an often-overlooked biomarker that plays a key role in metabolic health. He connects the dots and leads us to the nutritional and lifestyle practices that can provide the ‘U turn’ many of us desperately need to be fit and mentally sharp. This extraordinary book is equally important for healthcare providers as well as for health seekers.”—Sara Gottfried, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Women, Food, and Hormones

"In Drop Acid Dr. Perlmutter brilliantly introduces us to uric acid, how it can silently steal our health, and what to do about it. This is an engaging read that opens an important door to health."—Dr. Jeffrey Bland, author of The Disease Delusion

From the Publisher