Have you been given the advice to eat dark chocolate to fix Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? While this advice seems like a clear case of something being too good to be true, there is some validity behind it. However, some experts will tell you to forget about dark chocolate health benefits if you have Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones because this food should be avoided at all costs. Should you try dark chocolate for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones? Let’s break down the chocolate Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones connection right here!
Is Dark Chocolate Good for Kidneys?
You may already be familiar with the long list of dark chocolate health benefits that includes reducing your risk for heart disease, balancing blood pressure, shielding the skin from sun damage, and improving brain function. Dark chocolate is abundant in antioxidants that scavenge harmful free radicals from the body’s cells. In fact, dark chocolate contains more antioxidants than blueberries. Some studies have shown that higher consumption of antioxidants decreases risks for Calcium Oxalate Crystal stone formation. Cocoa flavanols found in dark chocolate have also been shown to have beneficial effects on blood vessel function that may help to support improved kidney function.
Chocolate and Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones: The Oxalate Factor
It’s a little too early to declare dark chocolate good for kidneys. The next part of the chocolate Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones story involves substances called oxalates that are believed to heavily influence kidney stone formation. Oxalates are substances that can form crystals in the urine. This generally happens if there is too much oxalate combined with too little liquid because the oxalates will bind with the calcium while urine is being made by the kidneys. “Cocoa and dark chocolate have been promoted as health foods due to the high levels of antioxidants found in cocoa beans (Theobroma cacao L.) and their products but they also contain moderate to high levels of oxalates which can cause some health concerns,” according to a study on oxalate content in chocolate. If you suffer from frequent painful Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones, this news may be enough to have you swearing off chocolate forever. However, there is a way to potentially enjoy a little dark chocolate health benefits for kidneys and the rest of the body.
How to Make Dark Chocolate A little Better for those with Calcium Oxalate Crystal stone challenges
A glass of milk may help to solve some of the concern of consuming chocolate and experiencing Calcium Oxalate Crystal stone challenges. That’s because consuming high-oxalate foods with calcium-rich foods can counteract some of the negative consequences of oxalates. Milk hinders the stone-forming risks of chocolate by binding to soluble oxalates during digestion and do not make it to the kidneys. When oxalates are absorbed, they accumulate in the kidneys to bind with calcium so it is best if they bind before that and pass out of your body in your stool. The crystals that form in the kidney are eliminated by the body through urination. However, high levels of oxalates and calcium in the kidney may cause one to form stones. Some of these may become too large to be expelled through urination and that can be a real challenge.
Final Thoughts on Chocolate and Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones
Is dark chocolate good for kidneys? The truth is that it’s hard to pin down a definitive answer because so much of the full answer rests on a person’s dietary profile. The simple answer about the chocolate and the Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones connection is that chocolate is a high-oxalate food that should generally be avoided by someone who is prone to Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. However, there is some data showing that dark chocolate health benefits stemming from its antioxidant content could potentially make chocolate not too bad especially if eaten in real moderation and with a calcium rich food like milk. and There’s one life tip to walk away with when it comes to chocolate and Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones. When consuming any type of oxalate-rich food, it’s important to add in a calcium-rich food because this allows the oxalate and calcium to bond together in the stomach and intestines and thus possibly not even making it to the kidneys. This is one of the best strategies for preventing Calcium Oxalate Crystal stones.
Calcium and Potassium-rich Diets May Help Stop Recurrent Kidney Stones
There is no magic in curing kidney stones from forming. Yet, there are few foods and diets that help in doing so. To know more on this, read the full blog.