Now, most people only think about uric acid if someone has gout. You know—the painful swelling in the big toe that historically was called “the disease of kings.” That was because the kings ate rich food the poor people, who were healthier, couldn’t afford the refined food. Now about all of us can eat like kings and that isn’t good. According to neurologist and researcher David Perlmutter in his fascinating book Drop Acid, elevated uric acid may be quietly damaging metabolic health long before gout ever develops