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Is Eating Chocolate a Healthy Way To Lose Weight?
Ray Darken
How many diets have you been on that you have abandoned due to wanting to eat chocolate? Well, great news for you! Scientists have proven that you don't have to totally deprive yourself of the food of the gods to lose weight. Yes, you have read right. You can still eat chocolate and not destroy your diet. For all of you who do want your chocolate and weight loss too, read on.
There have been two studies conducted recently which concluded that there are health giving benefits in chocolate. Some of the findings were:
* black tea is surpassed by hot chocolate in that the levels of antioxidants are five times higher.
* Green tea and red wine have about half the antioxidants that exist in hot chocolate and cocoa.
* chocolate is naturally rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and natural antioxidants.
* fat cells from lab mice produced significantly less triglycerides and fat releasing hormones when exposed to phenolic acids and flavonoids.
* Flavonoids, antioxidants and phenolic acids are higher in hot chocolate/cocoa tha the common chocolate bar or candy.
* chocolate does contain fat burning properties, but consume too much chocolate and the fat grams and calories will undo any weight loss campaign.
Health benefits of antioxidants.
Antioxidants are being shown to have increasing health benefits. Natural antioxidants are important for good heart health, repairing damaged cells, turning back the hands of time, reducing the risk of some cancers, and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
In addition, metabolic syndrome risks are minimized, triglycerides are reduced, fat hormone manufacturing is reduced and obesity is also reigned in. Researchers have noted that those who consume a well balanced diet high in natural antioxidants seem to have a reduced chance of suffering from weight related health problems.
Other foods that are naturally high in antioxidants are berries, fruits and vegetables (the more colorful the better), red wine, green tea, and some seeds and nuts.
Healthy Weight Loss.
This doesn't discount that your diet must be well balanced and exercise is a must but you don't have to kill yourself. Consuming chocolate alone would not be helpful in losing pounds, and there would be many other important nutrients that would be lacking. This includes foods from all groups and some lean protein.
For those looking to lose weight a little chocolate is not going to sabotage your weight loss efforts. When doing your daily calculations, make sure you include fat grams, carbohydrates and calories for consideration. Chocolate has many health benefits, but a little goes a long way.
You can have your chocolate cake and lose weight too, just make sure it is a small slice.
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You can find the same reference source from a long term or lifestyle diet that the author Billy Baker uses at the Mediterranean diet. However, use this link if you like to read more on the benefits in chocolate and also see an informative and related video.
Article submitted Friday, September 12, 2008
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