- Weight loss mechanism
- Benefits and risks
- Contraindications
- How to choose?
- Recommendations
- Variations
Many people are surprised that dietary experts recommend a fasting day on chocolate for a rapid and pleasant weight loss. Is it possible to lose weight on such a high-calorie and sweet product? It turns out that such miracles do happen, and we still have a lot to learn about our bodies. If you are afraid of boring fasting, this option is a real catch for you.
Weight loss mechanism
Nutritionists have long developed a chocolate fasting day, and its action on the body has been thoroughly studied. Weight loss is possible thanks to cocoa beans, which:
- prevent the development of insulin resistance (which is the most common cause of obesity) and improves the regulation of glucose metabolism;
- support useful microflora in the intestines, because of which food is digested faster;
- remove inflammation in the body that can trigger weight gain;
- reduce depression, therefore, there is no need to “seize” stress;
- accelerate metabolism;
- actively break down fats, removing them from the body (although this is a rather long process that cannot be completed in one day, nevertheless, you will start it).
It turns out that chocolate, despite its high calorie content (more than 500 kcal per 100 g), is just as suitable for losing weight as many other dietary products. And the results of such fasting days are the proof of this. If you do everything correctly, you can lose up to 1.5 kg.
Origin of the name. The word “chocolate” comes from the Mayan language, where “xocolatl” meant “bitter water.”
Benefits and risks
When choosing such a treat for weight loss, it is important to understand its possible benefits and where to expect a catch.
Benefits:
- prevents cardiovascular diseases;
- reduces the risk of stroke and heart attacks, preventing blood clots;
- prevents diabetes, as it regulates the body’s ability to absorb glucose;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- provides elasticity to blood vessels;
- facilitates the course of autoimmune diseases;
- stimulates brain activity, improves memory, activates thought processes;
- antioxidants prevent the formation of tumors;
- polyunsaturated fatty acids remove bad cholesterol.
Risks:
- destroys tooth enamel;
- addictive as food;
- high calorie content;
- a small daily portion causes a feeling of hunger – it can be very difficult to endure;
- diet monotony;
- nausea and dizziness are frequent side effects;
- fainting is possible;
- often provokes gastrointestinal upset;
- contributes to skin rashes.
Obvious harm from such fasting days can be felt only in extreme cases: if contraindications were ignored or the recommended dosage was increased.
Additional information. Chocolate improves myocardial function, strengthens and cleans blood vessels from cholesterol plaques.
Contraindications
You should not consider a chocolate fasting day if you have the following contraindications:
- allergy to cocoa beans;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes;
- obesity;
- hypotension;
- gout;
- urolithiasis;
- joint diseases;
- insomnia;
- metabolic disorders.
Of course, 100 g of dark chocolate eaten during the day will not provoke an exacerbation of gout or osteochondrosis, but unpleasant side effects are quite possible.
Do you know that… chocolate contains “theobromine” – a substance that makes this product poisonous to animals?
How to choose?
The variety of chocolate produced today is so great that the problem of choice is inevitable. Porous, dessert, vegan, diabetic, powder, liquid… Which of all these varieties will contribute to maximum weight loss during a fasting day? After all, if you make a mistake in this matter, instead of the expected weight loss, you can gain weight.
- Black/dark/bitter
The most suitable option, recommended by nutritionists for losing weight on chocolate, is bitter chocolate. It has the highest percentage of cocoa beans, which are responsible for weight loss – more than 55%. It is better to choose indicators from 75% or more – there will be more benefits. This product is labeled as “bitter”. If the numbers are lower, the packaging will say “dark” or “black”.
- Milk
It is certainly more pleasant to lose weight on milk chocolate, as it has a very delicate and soft taste, literally melting in your mouth. However, the content of cocoa beans in it is minimal, which means that all the difficulties of the fasting day may go completely unnoticed. Moreover, dry milk or cream with a fat content of 2.5%, which are part of it, are far from being dietary products, and there is practically no use from them. Therefore, nutritionists do not recommend this type.
- White
You can find anything on the Internet. Even such a paradox as a fasting day menu on white chocolate. Although there is not a single gram of cocoa beans in this delicacy, which is what triggers all the processes in the body that lead to weight loss. So, you will not find anything more useless for combating those extra pounds.
Other varieties also have no value for weight loss, so you can safely skip them.
This is interesting. The most expensive chocolate is “Chocopologie by Knipschildt”. 16 ounces (453 g) of this delicacy costs $2,600.
Recommendations
To achieve results, it is important to learn how to properly conduct a fasting day and get out of it without harming your health.
Preparation
A chocolate diet is a real stress for the body, which can react to it in a completely different way from what you expect. That is why it is so important to prepare it for this event in advance. To do this, take the following steps 2-3 days in advance.
- Start drinking plenty of water.
- Gradually exclude alcohol, carbonated drinks, fried foods, pickled, smoked, fatty, salty foods, and fast food from your diet.
- Give up sugary foods: candy, pastries, sugar, honey, jam, preserves, etc.
- Switch to healthy foods that are easily digestible: cereals, fruits, vegetables, lean meat, fish, etc.
- Spend more time on the fresh air, exercise more.
Following these simple recommendations, you will make it easier for your body to endure the upcoming stress. But remember that each organism is individual, and some people may not feel any discomfort or negative consequences of chocolate fasting. It all depends on your health, the state of your digestive system, and the presence or absence of other ailments.
Choice of chocolate
The type of chocolate has already been determined: the best for fasting is dark chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 75%. But how to choose a chocolate of good quality from all the variety presented on the store shelves?
Here are some tips for making your search easier:
- The higher the cocoa content, the better.
- Read the composition carefully. The less ingredients there are and the shorter the list, the better.
- Do not be fooled by bright packaging and advertising promises. The maximum benefit comes from the simplest chocolate bars without additives.
- Check the
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