Can Melinjo Trigger Uric Acid? Here's How to Consume It Safely

Kapanlagi.com - Melinjo, the food ingredient that often sparks debate among health enthusiasts! Many people believe that consuming melinjo, especially in the form of crispy emping, can be a cause of increased uric acid levels. As a result, many are hesitant to enjoy it. But, is melinjo really that bad for our uric acid levels?

Various studies show diverse results, depending on how much and how we process it. Therefore, it is important for us to understand the relationship between melinjo and uric acid, especially for those with a history of hyperuricemia.

Let's thoroughly examine whether melinjo can indeed increase uric acid levels, and check out safe consumption guidelines to maintain health.

1. What is Uric Acid and Its Causes?

Uric acid, or commonly known as uric acid, is a compound that appears when the body breaks down purines—natural substances found in foods such as red meat, organ meats, alcoholic beverages, and other food items like melinjo.

When uric acid levels spike high, it can trigger inflammation and pain in the joints, known as gout. However, the problem doesn't stop there; hyperuricemia can also lead to serious complications such as kidney stones and coronary heart disease.

Generally, an increase in uric acid levels is caused by a disorder of purine metabolism, excessive dietary intake of high-purine foods, or kidneys that do not function optimally in excreting excess uric acid.

2. Can Consuming Melinjo Increase Uric Acid?

Melinjo, the green one often overlooked, actually holds a mystery in its impact on uric acid levels! A 2019 study revealed that rats consuming melinjo seed extract experienced a spike in uric acid levels by up to 81.2% within nine days.

However, the high dosage used in the study—4.5 grams per kilogram of body weight—still leaves questions about its effects on humans.

On the other hand, research from Japan offers new hope; consuming 750 mg of melinjo extract per day has been shown to significantly reduce uric acid levels after eight weeks. This indicates that melinjo can be a friend or foe, depending on the dosage and how it is processed.

However, for those suffering from gout, it is best to be cautious with melinjo chips that are high in purines, as they can trigger a spike in uric acid levels if consumed excessively.

3. Parts of Melinjo that Can Lower Uric Acid

Who would have thought, behind the negative stigma of melinjo, there are extraordinary benefits that can help lower uric acid levels! Research from Malang State University reveals that the skin of melinjo contains secondary metabolites that can inhibit the enzyme xanthine oxidase with double the effectiveness compared to the drug allopurinol.

Not only that, the content of flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants in the skin of melinjo becomes even more active after being boiled, making it an interesting choice. The extract of melinjo leaves is equally impressive, proven to reduce uric acid levels by up to 61.04% in rats at a certain dose.

With this plethora of benefits, the skin and leaves of melinjo offer a safe and effective natural solution to address uric acid problems without serious side effects, making it a healthier alternative compared to chemical medications.

4. How to Safely Consume Melinjo

To prevent melinjo from being a major contributor to uric acid levels, it is important to pay attention to the portions and how it is processed. It is advisable to enjoy melinjo in reasonable portions and avoid excessive consumption.

Processing it properly, such as boiling or steaming, can help reduce the purine content within it. However, when melinjo is processed into emping through frying, its purine content actually increases.

Therefore, for those who experience hyperuricemia, it is highly recommended to limit the consumption of emping melinjo for health reasons.

5. Fact or Myth: Melinjo and Uric Acid

Melinjo, although known to contain purines that can increase uric acid levels, actually holds interesting potential health benefits! When consumed in the right amounts and processed properly, melinjo can be a healthy companion for the body.

Recent research even shows that melinjo extract has the ability to serve as a natural therapy to control uric acid levels. However, to truly understand its long-term effects on human health, further research is still needed.

6. Does melinjo always cause an increase in uric acid?

7. How to process melinjo to make it safe for people with uric acid?

8. Can melinjo leaves be consumed to lower uric acid?

9. Are studies on rats relevant to humans?

(kpl/rmt)