Eating chocolate before and after your meals is the newest weight-loss tactic. But is it too good to be true?
While a chocolate diet might sound too good to be true to most seasoned dieters, it's absolutely possible to lose weight while still enjoying chocolate as part of a balanced diet. According to Weight Watchers, good-quality dark chocolate provides a portion of the same health benefits as most leafy green vegetables. Researchers have long known that cocoa is rich in flavanols, which have been shown to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. But it wasn't until recently that scientists starting searching for evidence of chocolate as a weight-loss tool. A flavonol in cocoa called oligomeric PCs has been linked to weight loss, displaying anti-obesity properties.
So, exactly how can this Dessert help keep your weight in check? From controlling appetite to cutting cravings, chocolate has quite a few tricks up its sleeve.
# Dark Chocolate Cuts Cravings
It seems a little counterintuitive, but to really take control over your cravings you’ve got to indulge in them. “A little sweet treat on occasion can help keep those cravings in check and allow you to follow your weight-loss or weight-maintenance regimen,” says Maria-Paula Carrillo, M.S., R.D.N., L.D. Give yourself a daily allowance of chocolate and stick to it — having clear boundaries can help with weight loss.# WTF!! Chocolate Decreases Body Fats
According to the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry certain flavanols that exist in chocolate, the sweet treat has been found to help lower blood sugar and also decrease body fat. Flavanols are plant-based nutrients and are more prevalent in dark chocolate than in milk chocolate,” explains Carrillo. However, too much of anything can lead to weight gain, so be very adamant about portion control!# WOW!! It Controls Appetite
Three hormones -- insulin, ghrelin and leptin -- control appetite. Insulin controls the transfer of sugar from the bloodstream to the cells in your body. Ghrelin is produced to increase your appetite, while leptin has the opposite effect. Studies have found that eating chocolate 20 minutes before and five minutes after lunch and dinner have been shown to cut your appetite by up to 50 percent. Believe it or not, chocolate actually contains a decent amount of fiber, which helps keep your appetite in check and increase feelings of satiety. One 3.5-ounce bar of 70% dark chocolate contains around 16% of your daily recommended intake.# TG!! It Reduces Stress
Eating small amounts of chocolate every day can help you relax, according to a study published in the Journal of Proteome Research. Stress triggers weight gain because it causes your cortisol levels to spike, increasing appetite and encouraging you to eat based on emotions rather than physical need—both of which result in overeating. If you can manage your stress levels, you can better control what you put in your mouth. Eating dark chocolate increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain, which helps alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety and boost your mood.# And?? It May Help Lower Cholesterol
Studies have shown that consumption of cocoa can reduce levels of “bad” cholesterol and raise levels of “good” cholesterol, potentially lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease. Dark chocolate improves several important risk heart disease risk factors. It lowers lipid profiles and platelet reactivity, lowers the susceptibility of bad LDL to oxidative damage while increasing good HDL.For More Updates: Subscribe Explore Food With Sudha
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Great One!!
ReplyDeletePeople must be aware :)