Short Answer: Chocolate is bad for gout. Because it has theobromine, sugar and fat, and they can increase uric acid levels, inflammation and weight gain.
Gout is a condition that affects your joints, especially the big toe, but also the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers.
In gout, your body produces too much uric acid, a waste product that normally dissolves in the blood and passes out in the urine.
When there is too much uric acid, it can form sharp crystals in and around the joints, causing inflammation, pain, swelling and redness.
This can lead to various health problems, such as joint damage, kidney stones and tophi (lumps of crystals under the skin).
One of the key factors in managing gout is diet.
What you consume can affect your uric acid levels, which can impact your gout symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage gout, you should consume low-purine foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and plant oils, and avoid high-purine foods like red meat, organ meat, seafood, alcohol and sugary drinks.
Now, chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, which are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and minerals.
People usually eat chocolate as a snack or a dessert, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods.
Chocolate is bad for gout because it contains theobromine, a compound that can increase uric acid levels.
Theobromine is also found in tea, coffee and cocoa.
Chocolate also contains sugar and fat, which can contribute to weight gain and obesity, which are risk factors for gout.
A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate can give you about 43 milligrams of theobromine, 24 grams of sugar and 31 grams of fat, which are 14%, 48% and 48% of your daily needs, respectively.
Theobromine can increase the production and decrease the excretion of uric acid, which can worsen gout.
Sugar can raise insulin levels, which can lower the excretion of uric acid.
Fat can increase inflammation, which can aggravate gout.
Furthermore, chocolate is a high-calorie food and calories are bad for gout.
Because, excess calories can lead to weight gain and obesity, which can put more pressure on the joints and increase the risk of gout.
That’s why I suggest you limit your chocolate intake to avoid gout attacks and complications.
Stick to one or two small squares of dark chocolate per day, preferably with at least 70% cocoa content, to minimize the theobromine, sugar and fat intake.
Also, you shouldn’t eat chocolate if you have kidney stones or diabetes to prevent kidney damage and blood sugar spikes.
Because, chocolate can increase the formation of calcium oxalate stones and interfere with glucose metabolism.
You can buy fresh chocolate in your local market or can order it from online.
Always choose organic, fair-trade and dark chocolate.
Because, they are better for your health, the environment and the farmers.
You can store them in a cool, dry and dark place for up to a year.
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Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing gout effectively.
I always recommend my gout patients to follow a gout-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being, and enjoy a longer and healthier life.
