Losing weight is often a real challenge – it requires self-denial. The first days are especially difficult and the body gets used to a negative energy balance or a significant reduction in simple carbohydrates. Not surprisingly, many people during this time struggle with depressed moods, sugar cravings and general disappointment. Therefore, the chocolate diet may seem like a real godsend, especially since its positive effect on weight loss has been proven. What is the chocolate diet, and should you use it?
What is the Chocolate Diet?
The chocolate diet consists of consuming a small amount of chocolate half an hour before breakfast, lunch and after dinner. The main thing is that it is high quality dark chocolate (preferably with a cocoa content of 90%). In total, you can eat no more than six cubes throughout the day (chocolate is high in calories, and in large quantities it can also cause addiction and digestive problems). They are effective in suppressing sugar cravings, regulating blood sugar levels and making you feel full.
Chocolate, consumed before meals, makes us eat less without feeling hungry, and during the day it prevents mood drops and adds energy. However, you must remember that chocolate is only part of a weight loss diet. During it, you need to remember about the correct balancing of food intake, and, above all, the negative energy balance. The basis of the diet should be vegetables and lean protein, as well as complex carbohydrates. To burn fat even faster, add ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and spices (chili, cayenne pepper) to meals and cocktails.
How does chocolate affect weight loss?
Small amounts of dark chocolate have a beneficial effect on weight loss. First, it contains phenylethylamine, which has a psychoactive effect and improves mood, which is very important in the fight against extra pounds. It is also effective in helping to control sugar cravings and reducing feelings of constant self-sacrifice. It also suppresses appetite and enhances feelings of fullness. Dark chocolate is also high in fiber, which regulates the absorption of fats and carbohydrates and improves bowel function. Thus, it protects against the accumulation of excess sugars in the form of adipose tissue. There are also substances that help burn fat – theophylline, theobromine and caffeine. The latter additionally stimulates the body and gives us energy.
Benefits of the chocolate diet
Including dark chocolate in your weight loss diet has many other benefits. The antioxidants it contains slow down the aging process and strengthen blood vessels. Thus, they also improve the condition of the skin. In dark chocolate, we also find a lot of magnesium, which supports the nervous system, and potassium, which is responsible for proper blood pressure and heart function. The Chocolate Diet is based on a balanced diet, excluding only highly processed foods, including sweets. By replacing them with chocolate, you can easily control sugar cravings, which for many people am the most burdensome element in cutting back on their diet.
