5 fabulous ways chocolate helps in weight loss

Who ever associates chocolate with weight loss? The two words don't even sound right when put in the same sentence. Anyone who has ever gone on a diet has had to stay miles away from chocolate but now, there's an all new take on this. Experts and studies have revealed that there are tons of health benefits that chocolate has, one of them being weight loss! It's like the good news we've been waiting for all our lives is finally here and if you think it's too good to be true, think again!

So here's the deal : Cocoa in its raw form is naturally very high in natural plant nutrient, flavanols and this element of chocolate is what we can take advantage of for weight loss. But before you tuck into a kilo of Dairy Milk, there's more to this intriguing theory that you should know about. It has been found that the flavanil content in dark chocolate improves insulin (a complex hormone involved in a vast number of biochemical reactions in the body). However, one of them is to determine whether or not the food you've consumed is absorbed or simply stored as fat. Now, if you improve your insulin sensitivity you in turn improve your ability to absorb and use carbs as sugars! Isn't that cool? 

Now that you have a brief understanding of how it works, let me share with you 5 ways in which chocolate can aid you in shedding those extra kilos...

1. It cuts cravings 

Though it maybe a counterintuitive approach, sometimes you need to give into your cravings in order to make them go away. While following a strict diet, we tend to get these unstoppable and unhealthy sugar cravings. A little bit of dark chocolate will help curb this and will stop you from eating some thing higher in sugar value and lower in nutrients. 

2. It regualtes your appetite 

Chocolate is known to have a sufficient amount of fibre to keep your appetite in control. Nibbling on some dark chocolate over nutritionally empty sweets for a quick snack will help avert that insane craving more effectively. 

3. It improves metabolism

Dark chocolate is packed with monounsaturated fatty acids which help step up metabolism so you burn calories faster. Chocolate affects the way our body synthesises fatty acids and reduces the absorption of fats and carbohydrates.

4. Encourages exercise

Chocolate has anti-inflammatory constituents, which when combined with its generous supply of magnesium, may lead to less pain. Exercise appears far more appealing when you feel good. If there is pain after a strenuous session at the gym, munch on a bit of chocolate and see the change!

5. It reduces stress and inflamation 

Stress is a killer and can trigger of weight loss. It is tried and proven that chocolate does considerbly help in reducing stress. Eating dark chocolate increases serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain, which helps alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety and boost your mood. Coming to inflamation, when your body is inflamed, it experiences problems at the cellular level. Munching on dark chocolate in moderation can help prevent and repair the cellular damage caused by inflammation because the flavanols found in cocoa contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Having said all this, make sure you don't over indulge yourself. Dark chocolate will only aid weight loss, so don't expect a miracle. However, I'm sure it's just comforting to know that you don't have to totally stay away from chocolate. 

To help you further, here's the recipe to an uber healthy chocolate shake that you can gulp down, unapologetically! 

Ingredients

2 green tea bags

20g roasted cocoa 

180 ml hot water

1½ tablespoons clear honey

300g fresh or frozen blueberries

500g natural yoghurt

10 ice cubes

Method

Put the green tea bags and cocoa in a bowl and pour over the hot water. Allow to infuse for 3 minutes. Remove the teabags and stir in the honey. Add the mixture and the remaining ingredients to a blender and blitz until the ice has broken down completely. Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately.

Are you excited to know that chocolate can be a part of your weightloss plan? Let us know what you think in the comments below...