Among the foods that should be limited to prevent or control kidney stones, dark chocolate is a notable name.
Dark chocolate contains high oxalate content - one of the main causes of the most common kidney stone: Calcium oxalate.
According to research, up to 75% of cases of kidney stones are calcium oxalate stones. When the amount of oxalate in the body exceeds the threshold, they combine with calcium in the urine to form crystals and accumulate into stones.
100g of dark chocolate can contain up to 117mg of oxalate a higher level than many other foods. Dark chocolate also contains caffeine, a mild diuretic, which can increase calcium excretion through urine. Excretion of calcium in large amounts through urine increases the risk of crystallization with oxalate, thereby forming stones.
In addition, dark chocolate can also reduce the absorption of magnesium - a mineral that helps inhibit the crystallization of oxalate stones. When there is a magnesium deficiency, the risk of stone formation increases.
Therefore, people with kidney stones, especially calcium oxalate stones, should minimize their consumption of dark chocolate. Instead, you should increase your water intake, supplement foods rich in citrates such as lemons, oranges and balance the amount of calcium in your diet.
For people with a history of kidney stones, changing their eating habits is an important factor in preventing recurrence, in which avoiding dark chocolate is the right and scientific decision.
