Great news guys, eating chocolate every day can help you lose weight!
Scientists have found that chocolate could help prevent obesity and Type 2 diabetes. They discovered that an antioxidant in cocoa can prevent mice from gaining weight and that it also lowered their blood sugar levels. This comes from the latest study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Apparently, it’s all about the flavanols; the scientists fed 3 groups of mice 3 different diets- a high-fat, a low-fat diet and a high-fat diet supplemented with different kinds of flavanols. What they found is that the high fat diet with the added compound of oligomeric procyanidins (PCs) made the biggest difference in keeping the mice’s weight down. They also improved glucose tolerance, which could potentially help prevent Type 2 diabetes. It looks like Oligomeric PCs possess the greatest anti-obesity and anti-diabetic bioactivities of the flavanols in cocoa when given in small doses, the researchers say.
Another study from the University of L’Aquila in Italy found that people who ate a candy bar’s worth of dark chocolate once a day for 15 consecutive days actually decreased their potential for insulin resistance by almost 50%.
Researchers have confirmed that flavonoids reduce insulin resistance. Sue Decotiis, M.D., weight-loss specialist and board-certified internist, reports that dark chocolate contains healthy fats which slow the absorption of sugar into the blood stream. This helps prevent insulin spikes, which is lethal for taking sugar straight into your fat cells. She says “Insulin spikes turn off your body’s fat-burning mechanisms and make you hungry again several hours later,”. Insulin spikes can also lead to insulin resistance and diabetes!
Swiss scientists found that dark chocolate reduces the effects of stress, and University of Copenhagen researchers have shown that eating dark chocolate curbs cravings, decreases appetite, improves thinking and lowers blood pressure.
Remember, you are looking for DARK CHOCOLATE at least 70% COCOA. Dark chocolate has less added sugar, contains monounsaturated fatty acids and has a bittersweet taste that reduces the amount you eat. Only eat a small portion, roughly the size of your thumb. It will not work with milk or white chocolate!
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Reference: Woman’s Health
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