Does Chocolate Raise Uric Acid?

Chocolate is one of the most beloved sweet treats in the world. You’re probably a big chocolate lover yourself but as a gout patient, you might be wondering if it’s something that can raise your uric acid.

Here’s the thing. Chocolate by itself is not bad. It’s the ingredients that are added to mainstream chocolate products that make it bad. They are often very high in sugar, and as you may know, sugar can be a trigger for gout since it elevates your uric acid.

For instance, a bar of Hershey’s Chocolate contains up to 8 teaspoons of sugar! Or how about a Snickers Almond Bar? Sure, the almond part might make it sound healthy but that bar of chocolate alone has 6 teaspoons of sugar.

History of Chocolate

Chocolate wasn’t always a highly sweet treat that we enjoy now. In fact, it used to be called “bitter water” by the Mayans. It has a very long history dating back to 4000 years ago. It originated in Mesoamerica (Mexico) where the first cacao plants were found. Cacao plants were turned into chocolate by the early civilizations here and they would drink it during rituals and take it as medicine as well.

Cacao became a valuable part of life in some cultures that in the 15th century, the Aztecs would use the beans as currency. It was believed that chocolate was a drink of the gods and that it was a gift given to them by god Quetzalcoatl. Aside from being medicine, chocolate was used as an aphrodisiac and even a pre-war drink

It took a while before chocolate would reach the taste buds of Europe. During 1500 AD, a Spanish explorer Hernan Cortés brought back chocolate after his expedition to the Americas. It was here that they began to tone down chocolate’s bitter taste by adding milk, sugar, and honey to it.

Since then, chocolate has become a favorite drink among the wealthy. So popular that even the Catholic monks of Spain would use it during religious rituals. The country kept chocolate a secret for a very long time and it wasn’t until almost a hundred years later that chocolate spread in other parts of Europe.

In 1828, the chocolate press was invented which made a huge impact on how chocolate was produced. This made it easy to make huge batches of chocolate which means its popularity would only grow from there.

Benefits of Chocolate for Gout

Cocoa comes from the Theobroma cacao tree. Inside the cocoa fruit contains about 20 to 50 beans. These beans are very rich in polyphenols which play an important role in protecting the body against oxidative stress. Because chocolate is high in antioxidants, it can help protect you against chronic conditions like heart disease, mental decline, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Compared to other foods such as tea, apples, onions, and red wine, cocoa is at the top with the most antioxidants that can help protect you against cardiovascular disease. Cocoa can help thin out the blood which can help prevent blood clots. Your gout can benefit from the improved blood circulation because this increases the amount of uric acid that is dissolved in your bloodstream.

Raw cacao also has the ability to provide relief from a gout attack since its flavonoids and polyphenols work together to reduce the pain in your joints. Its antioxidant properties will ensure that your body is at its best, including your kidneys. We all know how important this organ is for excreting uric acid. Lastly, cacao can help boost your mood so if you’re feeling stressed or depressed, a cup of cocoa drink might just help you feel better.

Other Benefits of Chocolate

● Chocolate can lower your risk for a heart attack. Aside from improving blood flow, cocoa has been found to reduce bad cholesterol.

● Chocolate can improve brain function and reduce your risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Again, this has something to do with improving blood flow and supply to your brain.

● Chocolate can improve Type 2 diabetes symptoms since cocoa flavanols have the ability to slow down carbohydrate digestion, reduce insulin sensitivity, and improve blood sugar.

● Chocolate helps you lose weight. It might seem counterintuitive but it’s true! This only applies to individuals who consumed dark chocolate. In the study, they found that participants who consumed dark chocolate had a lower BMI compared to those who ate it less. This could be because cocoa helps reduce appetite, regulate energy, and makes you feel fuller.

● Chocolate may play a role in cancer prevention. As mentioned earlier, cocoa has the highest concentration of antioxidants compared to other foods. There’s already some studies showing that it can reduce breast, pancreatic, liver, prostate, and colon cancer

● Chocolate can help with your teeth and skin health. Worried about your appearance? Cocoa might just help since it possesses compounds that have an antibacterial effect. Cocoa can also help with sun protection, improving circulation, and skin hydration.

But Can I Still Eat Chocolate If I Have Gout?

Yes, you can still eat chocolate. Just must be very careful which ones you eat. The milk chocolate you see at the supermarket is obviously a no-no since those are very high in sugar. It might even be high fructose corn syrup which is one of the worst triggers for gout.

You may have heard advice from health experts about eating dark chocolate instead. While this is a better alternative to regular chocolate products, it still has some sugar in it. In fact, a dark chocolate bar that has 85% cocoa will have about 6 teaspoons of sugar in it. Not exactly healthy!

However, if the choice was between a bar of Snickers or a bar of 99% pure dark chocolate, then the latter is obviously the better choice. Just do not make the mistake of over consuming because it’s the healthier choice. You still want to limit it since this type of chocolate is still somewhat unhealthy. It could contain unhealthy fats, sugar, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

How to Incorporate Chocolate Into Your Diet

For pure healthy chocolate, you need to either get cacao nibs or unsweetened cocoa powder. Thankfully, there are several culinary uses for these two ingredients. Here are just some ideas to help you incorporate chocolate into your diet.

● Drink cocoa purely by itself. Adding milk will reduce the overall cocoa content making it not as beneficial. Milk is also saturated fat which can lead to weight gain and will only make your gout worse.

● Add cacao nibs to your smoothies.

● Add cacao nibs to your baked goods.

● When making nut butters, you can blend cacao nibs with it.

● When making nut milks, cacao nibs also make a great addition.

● When making granola, you can replace chocolate chips and use granola instead.

● Sprinkle some cacao nibs to your morning oatmeal.

● If you’re a coffee lover, cacao nibs can be a great boost to your usual latte or cappuccino.

● Make energy balls by mixing coconut, almond butter, blended dates, and cacao nibs.

● Make some hot chocolate by steeping ground cacao nibs in a French press.

Cacao nibs aren’t just for sweet recipes. It can enhance savory dishes too!

● Add cacao nibs to savory sauces that are used on meat dishes.

● Crust your steak or duck with cacao nibs. This will give it a very distinct flavor.

● Add some variety to your regular dried fruits and nuts snack by mixing in some cacao nibs.

● Cacao nibs can be sprinkled over salads and roasted veggies too!

Yes, real chocolate is bitter but that’s how it was always intended. If you’re having a hard time adapting, you can slowly wean yourself from sweet chocolate. Begin with dark chocolate and slowly move towards a high cacao percentage every time you treat yourself to the occasional bar.

If you’re drinking hot cocoa powder, it’s okay to add some milk and honey in the beginning but over time you’ll decrease that until you get used to the bitter taste. When shopping for real chocolate, you’ll want to look for raw certified organic cacao powder or raw cacao beans.

Chocolate Precautions

Chocolate is great but you’ll want to talk to your doctor first on whether you can eat it or not. They know your health status and should be able to provide recommendations on how much you are allowed to eat.

Cocoa beans contain caffeine and theobromine and while beneficial to your health, they can have some side effects when taken in excess. This includes jitteriness, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.

Cocoa products are also not recommended for pregnant women especially those who are in the late stages of pregnancy. This is because cocoa’s antioxidants have a constriction effect on a fetal blood vessel. This can cause complications.

Lastly, you’ll want to avoid chocolate altogether if you are allergic to it.

What has your experience been like consuming chocolate while having gout? Are there healthy chocolate brands that you like? Share them in the comments below.

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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.