The Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate and Nuts: A Chocolate Diet with Nuts?
Nuts and Weight Loss
Not so long ago, nuts were a dieting no-no. Not anymore. Nuts, while high in calories and fat, are a great weight loss asset. Nuts contain healthy monounsaturated fats that don’t clog arteries. They are high in protein, fiber, and minerals like magnesium and copper. Harvard University research was presented stating that peanuts (although not technically a nut), can help people lose weight when incorporated into a healthy diet. According to Purdue University’s review of the current literature regarding nut intake and weight loss, there is an inverse association between nut intake and body mass index. (BMI) When people increase their nut intake, even though it means more calories are consumed, their weight does not increase in accordance with these extra calories.
It appears that almonds may also assist dieters in weight loss. The International Journal of Obesity recently published a study citing that people on an almond-rich diet lost more weight than those on a high carbohydrate diet of comparable daily calorie quotas. These people also lost substantially more inches in the waist than the people eating a high-carb diet.
So, however you crack the nut, it seems that nuts are a great addition to your diet if your goal is to lose weight.
A Chocolate Diet?
Add some chocolate to those nuts and you’re in for a real dieter’s treat. Just make sure you’re eating dark chocolate. Dark chocolate, with at least 60% cocoa is the kind you’ll want to purchase if your goal is to lose weight. What are the health benefits of dark chocolate? For starters, phenylethylamine. This chemical helps boost our mood and reduce our cravings. Cocoa also contains lots of fiber, which helps block fat absorption. Cocoa is full of flavonoids too. Flavonoids decrease inflammation which is associated with low leptin levels. When there are low leptin levels in the body, cortisol increases, and so does the appetite, which is not good for those who are trying to lose weight. If all that isn’t enough, consider the fact that cocoa helps stabilize blood sugar and gives us extra energy. Cocoa also contains theobromine, a chemical associated with weight loss. When choosing cocoa for weight loss, be sure to avoid Dutch processed cocoa. The process that is used to prepare Dutch processed cocoa wipes out many of the health benefits. Hershey’s Cocoa is perfect, and probably the most popular brand on the market. A chocolate diet can really work, as long as you watch those calories, and go for mostly unprocessed dark chocolate.
Resources
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