Dark chocolate is one of those desserts that is usually considered a safe food during the diet. This chocolate is heavily advertised as the only dessert that is even remotely healthy for you. But how is that possible? Isn’t dark chocolate still a form of chocolate? How is a dessert like chocolate going to be beneficial for you? More importantly, is dark chocolate good for weight loss? These are the questions we are attempting to explore through this article. But before delving more into the complexities of dark chocolate, let’s attempt to differentiate how this form of chocolate is different from other kinds of chocolates.
What is dark chocolate?
Differentiating the difference between normal chocolate and dark chocolate may seem like an unnecessary activity for you. But, in order to analyze is dark chocolate good for weight loss, this is an essential step. If you fail to understand why dark chocolate is not like other chocolates, it won’t be easy to process why it acts differently from them.
Yes, the ingredients used for preparing these chocolates are the same. Both these chocolates do contain cocoa, liquor, milk powder and sugar in them. But, the process of preparing dark chocolate is slightly different from that of preparing milk chocolate. Moreover, the ratios in which they are added also differ.
By a general rule of thumb, one can state that dark chocolate comprises a higher percentage of cocoa content than milk chocolates. It can be anywhere between 30 to 85 per cent of it. Hence one can state that dark chocolate acts differently than milk chocolate in our body solely due to the difference in this ingredient. So, in short, it is cocoa in chocolate that makes it healthy or beneficial for us. Now that we have finally realized why dark chocolate acts differently in our bodies than milk chocolate let’s return to the topic. Is dark chocolate good for weight loss, or is it just an advertising strategy invented by dark chocolate producers?
The health benefits provided by dark chocolate
Improves metabolism
The monounsaturated fats or MUFAs in dark chocolate can improve your metabolism. It can not only increase your postprandial fat oxidation but also induce greater diet thermogenesis. These changes will ultimately help you to burn calories much faster than normal. Moreover, it also affects how your body synthesizes fatty acids. Ingesting dark chocolate can help your body to slow down the absorption of fats and carbohydrates, which will ultimately help you to lose fat healthily.
Prevents insulin spike
Dark chocolate has the ability to improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin. As insulin is the hormone responsible for converting sugar into energy, this will help you to remove sugar from your bloodstream. Moreover, the healthy fats in dark chocolate will help you slow down sugar absorption into the bloodstream. Both actions will contribute immensely to preventing the insulin spike, leading to fat storage.
Moreover, dark chocolate will prevent you from experiencing increased hunger caused by spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels. Further, dark chocolate’s polyphenol content also helps you improve your inulin sensitivity.
Curbs cravings
Dark chocolate has the ability to make you feel satiated or feel full for a longer period. It will help you in reducing cravings and thereby prevent you from impulse eating. Do you know how? That is because eating or even smelling dark chocolate will reduce the level of ghrelin in your blood. Do you need to become more familiar with ghrelin?
Ghrelin is the hormone responsible for creating the feeling of hunger within you. So, as dark chocolate has the ability to reduce the secretion of ghrelin into your blood, you will not feel hunger. As a result, it will stop you from compulsive eating, which is one of the major reasons for weight gain.
Encourages exercise
As dark chocolate is a rich source of polyphenols, it will help create a positive sense of wellbeing. Further, the chemical component anandamide found in dark chocolate will help elevate your mood. When combined with the fact that chocolate has anti-inflammatory constituents and a generous supply of magnesium which will lessen body pain gives an individual every reason to work out. When you are in a good mood and don’t feel that much pain, you will automatically be encouraged to improve, which will induce you to exercise more.
Gives a happy high
One of the dark chocolate’s most prominent features is its happy high. That means the individual who consumes dark chocolate regularly is less stressed than usual. It will also help improve the quality of your sleep and can lower your blood cholesterol and pressure levels. Is a component loaded with antioxidants that fight free radicals which damage your healthy cells? So in all, it will improve your wellbeing and thereby enables you to have a happy high.
Improves bone health
Lastly and most importantly, dark chocolate will contribute immensely towards improving your bone health. The cocoa solids or the non-fat portion of cacao beans have a high flavanol content concentration. Flavonoids have proven to be extremely beneficial for the health of bones. Moreover, it also contains high levels of catechin and epicatechin in it.
Dark chocolate also has antioxidant properties. That means it can fight against oxidative stress and inflammation or, in other words, ROS, reactive oxygen species. ROS is a major culprit that deteriorates your bone health. It can increase bone cell death, bone breakdown, and bone resorption. So by preventing ROS from affecting your body dark chocolate is helping your bones to lead a happy life. But, there is a much more convenient and better way to boost the health of your bones.
Nutriplus BoneHealth
Nutriplus Bonehealth is the best product available in the market that will help you in improving your bone health. This product is a unique supplement which combines vitamins and minerals essential for maintaining the overall health of your bones. Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin D are some of the minerals in it. Moreover, the fact that the Calcium used in this supplement exits in a bioavailable form makes this the perfect product to cater to your needs.
Finally, if you are looking for a better way to improve your bone health choose Nutriplus Bone Health. Regardless, keep your favourite dishes, even desserts, even if they don’t fit your exercise regime. Remember to find healthy and better versions of those foods and make the extra effort to make them like dark chocolate. In short, don’t deprive yourself of the fun. Remember to make smart and wise choices in order to lead a happy and healthy life!
