Could it be true? Could chocolate actually help you lose weight? For years we have been told to stay as far away from chocolate as possible, don’t even breathe when walking down the candy aisle. Most spend wasted years crossing chocolate off the list if there was any hope of fitting into that little black dress by Christmas. Tell me it is true that chocolate is actually good for you. Well, good for you is an exaggeration. Eating a Hershey bar will not increase your weight loss but your sugar consumption. We all know the devastation to the hips if too much sugar is consumed. However, there is truth to the fact that chocolate can help with weight loss.
Cocoa the primary ingredient in chocolate can boost your mood, suppress your appetite and stimulate fat burning. Xanthines promote fat burning and cocoa contains three xanthines: caffeine, theobromine ad theophylline. In addition cocoa contains flavanols which reduce blood pressure and protect the arteries. Cocoa is also credited with helping cholesterol. It is well known that dark chocolate contains a high amount of antioxidants. In fact, it has a higher amount than blueberries.
Now doesn’t that make you feel better about cocoa or having a small piece of dark chocolate for when a craving hits? If not, have a piece and that will make you feel better. Why? Because chocolate also contains phenethylamine which is associated with having a “feel good” effect on the brain. Phenethylamine is also credited with increasing energy level. It just keeps getting better and better to have that nice hot cup of cocoa or a piece of chocolate. Believe it or not cocoa and dark chocolate even helps stabilize blood sugar. Yes, we still need to consume dark chocolate moderately as in anything but it is nice to know a little indulgence is actually a lot good for you.