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Beverage

Mai tai

USDA description: Mai Tai

How mai tai scores for gout, what moved that score, and the nutrition and portions behind it.

Food Index score

Mai taiCaution

35/ 100
0100
Based on a well-supported purine estimate
What moved this score
Starting score100
Alcohol-33.4
Category: Spirits-25
Nutrient Gaps-6
Calorie Density-2
Vitamin C+0.9
Magnesium+0.3
3 smaller factors+0.2
Final score35
Flare risk (acute)42
Long-term (chronic)93

Mai tai scores 35 out of 100 and sits in the caution band. Ranks toward the higher-risk end. Many people choose to keep portions smaller and less frequent.

Penalties took 66.5 points off a starting score of 100, and protective factors added 1.5 back. Every factor is listed in full below.

Scores run 0–100, where higher means more gout-friendly on average. They reflect relative ranking across foods, not a personal risk level. The same food can suit one person and not another, so use the score as a starting point for a conversation with your clinician.

The underlying data

Nutrition and portions

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per 100 g
Typical serving180 g
Calories149
  • Total Fat0.07 g
  • Saturated Fat0 g
  • Sodium4 mg
  • Dietary Fiber0.10 g
  • Total Sugars12.8 g
  • Protein0.18 g
  • Calcium7 mg
  • Iron0.18 mg
  • Magnesium7 mg
  • Vitamin C5.1 mg
  • Folate9 ug
  • Water71.2 g
  • Alcohol11.9 g
  • Omega-3 EPA0 g
  • Omega-3 DHA0 g

Common portions

  • 1 fl oz30 g
  • 1 drinktypical180 g
  • Quantity not specified180 g

Where the purine figure comes from

No direct purine measurement has been published for this food, so the score uses the measured median for its category (liquor and cocktails).

We rate this a good confidence estimate.

How purines affect the score →

Nutrition values from the USDA FoodData Central database.

Scoring rationale

Every factor, in full

Each row shows the points a factor moved, what drove it, and the studies behind its weight.

PointsFactor
  • -33.4

    AlcoholFlare risk

    11.9 g of alcohol per 100 g, scaled 1.8x for the typical portion. Alcohol slows the kidneys' clearance of urate.

    Evidence: FitzGerald JD 2020, Arthritis Care Res · Zhang Y 2006, Am J Med

  • -25

    Category: SpiritsFlare risk

    High alcohol concentration per serving; impairs renal urate excretion.

    Evidence: Choi HK 2004, N Engl J Med · Choi HK 2008, BMJ · Zhang Y 2006, Am J Med

  • -6

    Nutrient GapsLong-term

    Provides meaningful amounts of only 2 of the 5 protective nutrient groups (vitamin C, fiber, omega-3, magnesium and folate).

    Evidence: Choi HK 2009, Arch Intern Med · Juraschek SP 2016, Arthritis Rheumatol · Zhang M 2019, Arthritis Rheumatol

  • -2

    Calorie DensityLong-term

    149 kcal per 100 g, above the 80 kcal energy-density threshold.

    Evidence: Aune D 2014, Eur J Nutr

  • +0.9

    Vitamin CLong-term

    5.1 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, scaled 1.8x for the typical portion. Vitamin C helps the kidneys excrete urate.

    Evidence: Choi HK 2009, Arch Intern Med · Juraschek SP 2011, Arthritis Care Res

  • +0.3

    MagnesiumLong-term

    7 mg of magnesium per 100 g, scaled 1.8x for the typical portion.

    Evidence: Li X 2015, BMJ

  • +0.2

    FolateLong-term

    9 µg of folate per 100 g, scaled 1.8x for the typical portion.

    Evidence: Lyu LC 2017, Am J Clin Nutr

  • -0.1

    SodiumLong-term

    4 mg of sodium per 100 g, scaled 1.8x for the typical portion.

    Evidence: FitzGerald JD 2020, Arthritis Care Res

  • +0.1

    FiberLong-term

    0.1 g of dietary fiber per 100 g, scaled 1.8x for the typical portion.

    Evidence: Juraschek SP 2016, Arthritis Rheumatol

Common questions

About mai tai

Look up any food's Food Index score

Each score lists the factors that moved it, the portion it assumes, and the studies behind each factor's weight.

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