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Ever heard of Kersen before? Fruit that has another name Jamaican cherry or talok is small in size red when it is fully cooked. Usually this fruit grows especially in areas that are dry and also easy to grow wild, can grow wild can be on the edge of the road, ditch or in the middle of cracks between walls. Even though this plant is wild, it turns out it has benefits for treating gout, he said. Is it true or not, the benefits of the Kersen fruit? Come see the following review.
Overview of gout
Actually, gout occurs because the body cannot excrete uric acid which is the remnants of purine digestion. Purines themselves are substances found in various foods and will be converted into uric acid in the body. Well, unfortunately in people who experience this condition, too much purine substances in the body make uric acid levels increase.
This uric acid buildup will then accumulate in the joints, especially the small joints. This condition which then causes inflammation in the joints, feels hot, swollen and appears reddish.
Now, this high level of gout attack doesn't just happen, food is one of the things that can trigger your gout attack. Therefore, those of you who have high uric acid should know which foods are restricted and which foods are recommended so that symptoms do not appear.
One food in the form of a type of fruit that can help deal with gout is kersen fruit.
Benefits of kersen fruit for gout
Kersen fruit is a fruit that contains low purine content and contains flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants that can help prevent damage caused by aging caused by free radicals. This flavonoid compound can inhibit an enzyme called xanthine oxidase. This xanthine oxidase enzyme is responsible for forming blood uric acid.
In addition, the high water content in kesen fruit can help dissolve purines that settle in the kidneys and joints. That condition is what makes the fruits of kersen said to be able to treat gout.
A 2013 experimental study conducted on mice or small mice has proven the benefits of fruits to overcome gout. In this study it was found that administration of fruits in the form of juice can affect the decrease in blood uric acid levels, although this decrease is not as sharp as using allopurinol (a drug to reduce gout).
In fact, in other studies it is not only the fruits of fruit which can reduce uric acid levels, but also the leaves. Research in 2009 showed that jaiamcan chery leaves or kersen fruit which has the Latin name Muntingia calabura L can reduce serum uric acid levels.
Even so, more recent studies in 2014 showed that administration of kersen fruit juice did not affect serum uric acid levels given for 8 days.
Even though it is still controversial, but indeed the kersen fruit has a high antioxidant level and the antioxidant activity is very significant.
Can gout be treated with cancer fruit?
Although it has been proven that the benefits of kersen fruit can reduce uric acid levels, it does not mean that just consuming them can completely overcome this disease. Still, you need to take gout medication recommended by your doctor.
The drug usually used is allopurinol to reduce the production of uric acid in the body. If an attack of gout that causes the symptoms occurs, then the treatment chosen is NSAIDs (indomethacin, diclofenac, or ibuprofen) or colchicine.
Kersen fruit is not a medicine, but can be chosen as the right fruit intake for people with high uric acid. The content of flavonoids can help the body maintain uric acid levels remain stable, so that the fruit can help work the gout drug consumed.
