Gathered TableSuffering from gout can be a very painful experience. This is why it is very important that you know which foods to eat and which ones you need to avoid at all costs. Unfortunately, the list of foods to eat and avoid for gut sufferers can be quite complex and might be different depending on the person.
It is always a better choice to learn the effects first of a particular food on your condition before you even give it a try.
How about coconut milk, then? Is coconut milk high in purine that can cause gout?
Whether you are a gout sufferer or not, you don’t have to worry because coconut milk is not high in purine. Instead, it is a magical fruit that offers many great benefits. Read on below to know more about coconut milk and gout.
What is Coconut Milk?
The coconut or Cocos nucifera is a member of the palm family or Arecaceae, growing abundantly all over Polynesia, southern Asia, and Malaysia. Although it is often regarded as a nut, the truth is that coconuts are classified as fruits, specifically a one-seeded drupe.
You can use almost every part of the coconut, including the flesh, water, oil, and sugar. However, it is important to note that, unlike coconut water, coconut milk doesn’t occur naturally. Instead, it is made by mixing coconut water with the flesh.
Coconut Basics
Coconut is the fruit from the coconut palm or Cocos Nucifera. It can be found in different parts of the world and consumed and cultivated in many tropical areas for more than 4,500 years. It makes coconut one of the oldest foods that man has ever known.
Coconuts are generally considered healthy and can be consumed safely. But if you are a gout sufferer, you might already know that what is healthy for other people might be dangerous for you.
One cup or 100 grams of coconut is loaded with copper, iron, manganese, and selenium. Raw coconut meat contains 3 grams of protein, 15 grams of carbs, 33 grams of fat, and 354 calories.
Dried coconut meat, on the other hand, contains 7.5 grams of protein, 18 grams of fiber, 25 grams of carb, 65 grams of fat, and 650 calories.
Coconut can also protect your heart and help you manage your blood sugar levels. It is also rich in antioxidant properties. Specifically, coconut contains caffeic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, and salicylic acid.
It seems like gout and coconut have a positive connection and you can enjoy its different benefits.
Nutritional Profile of Coconut Milk
Canned coconut milk in a 100ml serving contains the following:
- 169 calories/ 697KJ
- 1.1g protein
- 3.3g carbohydrate
- 14.6g saturated fat
- 16.9g fat
Coconut contains significant amounts of fat. While you can now get canned coconut milk available as a reduced fat product with about half the fat content of the regular product, it is still important to check the coconut content first since it can affect the creaminess of the dish you plan to prepare.
Some of the purported health benefits of coconut milk include the following:
- It is lactose-free.
- It contains medium-chain fatty acids.
- It has anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- It may offer support for cardiovascular health.
- It may lessen the risk of stomach ulcers.
The Connection Between Gout and Coconut
It seems that gout and coconut have a closer link than you may know. Coconut is a healthy fruit that comes with different benefits for your health. Many people who want to lead a healthier lifestyle love coconut and eat it every day.
However, coconut is rich in calories and fat. Consuming a good amount of this fruit can make you gain weight. But it is important to remember that excess weight can be bad for your gout and will also have a very negative effect on your health in general. More extra weight also means more uric acid, making your body less effective in getting rid of the acid.
Scientists claim that these problems have not been researched properly yet and there is no 100% detailed and accurate information, many experts will agree with the above claims.
Is Coconut Bad for Your Gout?
No, coconut is not bad for your gout. It will not cause a spike in uric acid levels or lead to a new attack. It means that you can consume the fruit occasionally. However, never expect that coconut will help improve your gout, either.
But eating coconut every day is still not recommended if you suffer from grout. It will eventually increase your weight, not to mention that it will put you at more risk of suffering from another flare. To prevent it from happening, the best thing you can do is add a cup of coconut fruit per week to your diet.
As for coconut oil, things might be a bit different. Coconut oil has fat content but only in smaller amounts. You can try this tip if you are looking for a new remedy. Use coconut oil thrice a day for ten days then use it every time you have flares. It gives you a 50% chance of experiencing some benefits. But if you don’t see any improvement, it is best to stop its use immediately.
Is Coconut Milk a Safe Choice for Everyone?
It is very rare for people to experience allergic reactions to coconut. However, sensitization and contact dermatitis to the tree pollen is observed more often.
Coconuts are among the foods that seem to oscillate between the bad and good food categories. Coconut milk, specifically the lower fat variety, is best used in moderation at a maximum of twice a week. But experts also recommend that you swap saturated fats and their sources, which include coconut oil, for their unsaturated counterparts.
Coconut milk is not high in purine. It means that you don’t have to worry about consuming it if you have gout. However, coconut is what you can consider partially neutral as far as gout is concerned. It has no clear benefits and improvements, but it also doesn’t have direct drawbacks. However, there are still a few indirect concerns. While you can consume coconut milk occasionally, it is best to avoid frequent usage.
