Chocolate and gout is it a bad combination? This is a question that every chocolate addict will worry about if they have suffered from gout in the past.
Gout – A Brief Introduction
There are a few different causes of gout, from purine high foods, alcohol and certain medical conditions, each with different triggers specific to each individual.
For many sufferers of gout the way in which they can easily make an instant impact is to watch their diet, keeping away from foods that are high in purine content.
With chocolate being an, often, addictive food that most of us enjoy, it can be worrying to think it could be a problem when suffering with gout.
Do we have good news or bad for you with regards chocolate and gout?
Here is a list of some foods that contain little to no levels of purine and are safe to be used on a daily basis, even if you suffer from gout or are worried about a gout flare up:
- White Bread
- Cheese
- Coffee
- Custard
- Eggs
- Fruit
- CHOCOLATE
- Herbs
- Ice Cream
- Milk
- Oil
- Olives
- Rice
- Salt
- Tea
- Vegetables
- Sugar
- Carbonated Beverages
This is fantastic news as you can see chocolate is clearly marked on the list. It isn’t just a case of chocolate being something you can eat freely when you are a sufferer of gout, there are also some health benefits to eating chocolate and gout can benefit as a result.
Treating Gout with Chocolate
Obviously, when we say treating gout with chocolate, we don’t mean sit back and consume as much chocolate as you can and think your gout will disappear. There are many other things you can be doing to help your gout, such as doing regular exercise, eating a balanced and healthy diet and also using supplements to ease the symptoms of gout, like the powerful, all-natural Uriciplex that targets the root causes of gout and relieves symptoms.
Chocolate and gout isn’t that straightforward though, not all chocolate is good for it. Many chocolates are full of fat and sugar content, and these types of child-friendly chocolate bars may not be a good fit for you if you are a gout sufferer. However, the higher the content of cocoa the better for your health, so dark chocolate for instance tends to have an average 35% cocoa within it. This is deemed an ideal amount for gout sufferers due to the antioxidant properties of cocoa. If you eat dark chocolate in moderate amounts it will help your blood circulation and ease the symptoms of gout. What is deemed a moderate amount would vary from person to person as we are all different shapes and sizes to begin with, but what we can say is that excess consumption of any chocolate, even those with high cocoa content, will lead to a higher risk of obesity and the potential health complications related to that, including gout. We would always advise that you consult your GP before amending your diet to include chocolate as part of a plan to combat gout.
The Power of Cocoa
Cocoa contains flavonoids (catechins, proanthocyanidins, epicatechins and Flanvan-3-ols are present in cocoa), a powerful antioxidant that helps fight high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Flavonoids also help with blood circulation, and in turn this lowers uric acid levels in the bloodstream, helping it dissolve and become processed through your urine. Another important part of the body that helps keep gout at bay is your kidneys. The antioxidant properties of cocoa ensure that your kidneys are functioning well, helping to flush purines out of your system and prevent a build-up of uric acid. Raw cacao has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help against a gout attack. The flavonoids and polyphenols present work together to decrease the pain levels in your joints, as they become COX2 inhibitors.
Does Chocolate Help Treat Gout?
Put simply, when it comes to chocolate and gout, moderate amounts of chocolate consumption, dark chocolate in particular with its high cocoa content, can help combat the symptoms of gout due to its anti-inflammatory properties and the way in which it can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. All of these things will help decrease the chances of uric acid build-up in your blood stream, which causes gout and the related inflammation around the joints. Always consult your doctor before committing to any diet you are unsure of, even chocolate! If you do suffer from gout or are worried about flare-ups, don’t worry about reaching for that dark chocolate bar and enjoying yourself from time-to-time. Just be wary not to over indulge, eat a balanced, healthy diet and exercise regularly. Gout supplements such as Uriciplex can also help ease treatment and lower uric acid levels in your body.
