- The mechanism for losing weight
- Benefits and risks
- Contraindications
- How to choose?
- Recommendations
- Options
Many people are amazed that fast and tasty weight loss is possible on a chocolate-based fasting day. Can a high-calorie, sugary product reduce weight? It turns out that such miracles can happen, and we still have much to learn about our own bodies. If you are afraid of bland fasts, this option is a real find for you.
The mechanism for losing weight
Nutritionists developed the chocolate fasting day long ago and fully explored its effect on the body. Weight loss is possible thanks to the cocoa beans, which:
- prevent the development of insulin resistance (it is the most frequent cause of obesity) and improve the regulation of glucose consumption;
- support beneficial intestinal microflora, thanks to which food is digested faster;
- eliminate inflammatory foci in the body that can provoke extra weight gain;
- reduce depression and there is no need to “eat down” stress;
- speed up metabolism;
- effectively break down fats, removing them from the body (however, this is a rather lengthy process that cannot be completed within one day, but at least you will start it).
So it turns out that chocolate, despite its high calorie content (more than 500 kcal per 100 g) is just as good for losing weight as many other diet foods. And the results of such fasting days are evidence of this. If you do everything right, you can lose up to 1.5 kg.
Origin of the name. The word “chocolate” derives from the Mayan language, where “xocolatl” meant “bitter water”.
Benefits and risks
When choosing a weight loss method using this sweet treat, you need to imagine what its benefits might be and what to expect.
Benefits:
- prevents cardiovascular diseases;
- reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks by preventing blood clots;
- prevents diabetes mellitus, as it controls how the body absorbs glucose;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- promotes vessel elasticity;
- facilitates the course of autoimmune diseases;
- stimulates intellectual activity, improves memory, and activates thinking processes;
- antioxidants prevent tumor formation;
- polyunsaturated acids remove bad cholesterol.
Risks:
- destroys tooth enamel;
- causes food addiction;
- high calorie content;
- the minimum recommended daily portion causes severe hunger — it can be very difficult to endure;
- monotony of the diet;
- nausea and dizziness are noted among the side effects;
- fainting is possible;
- often triggers gastrointestinal disorders;
- contributes to skin rashes.
Only in extreme cases can adverse effects from such fasting days be felt: when the contraindications have been ignored or the recommended dosage has been increased.
Additional information. Chocolate improves heart function, strengthens, and cleanses vessels from cholesterol plaques.
Contraindications
Do not consider chocolate fasting days if you have the following contraindications:
- cocoa bean allergy;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes mellitus;
- obesity;
- hypotension;
- gout;
- urolithiasis;
- joint diseases;
- insomnia;
- metabolic disorder.
Of course, 100 g of chocolate eaten per day will not provoke an exacerbation of gout or osteochondrosis, but unpleasant side effects are quite possible.
Did you know that… chocolate contains “theobromine” — a substance that makes this product toxic to animals?
How to choose?
The variety of chocolate available today is so diverse that the problem of choice inevitably arises. Porous, dessert, vegan, diabetic, powder, liquid… Which type will contribute to maximum weight loss on a fasting day? After all, if you make a mistake here, you can gain weight instead of losing it.
- Black / dark / bitter
The most optimal option that nutritionists recommend is to lose weight on bitter chocolate. It has the highest percentage content of cocoa beans, which is responsible for weight loss: above 55%. It is better to choose indicators starting from 75% — there will be more benefits. It is this type of product that is labeled “bitter”. If the numbers are smaller, “dark” or “black” will be indicated on the packaging.
- Milk
Undoubtedly, a milk chocolate diet is much more pleasant, as it tastes very soft and delicate, literally melting in your mouth. However, it contains a minimal amount of cocoa beans, which means that all the hardships of a fasting day may go completely unnoticed. Moreover, dry milk or cream with a fat content of 2.5% in its composition are far from being dietary products, and there is practically no benefit from them. So nutritionists do not recommend this type.
- White
You can find everything on the Internet. Even a paradox, such as a fasting day menu based on white chocolate. Although this delicacy does not contain a single gram of cocoa beans, which trigger all the processes in the body leading to weight loss. So nothing more useless for dealing with those extra pounds can be found.
Other types also have no value in losing weight, so you can firmly ignore them.
Interesting fact. The most expensive chocolate is “Chocopologie by Knipschildt”. 453 g of the treat costs $2,600.
Recommendations
To achieve results, learn how to properly carry out the fasting day and get out of it without harm to your health.
Preparation
Chocolate starvation is a real stress for the body, to which it may not react at all the way you want. Therefore, it is very important to prepare your body for this event in advance. To do this, take the following actions 2-3 days before it.
- Start drinking plenty of water.
- Gradually exclude alcohol, carbonated drinks, fried foods, pickled foods, smoked foods, fatty, salty foods, fast foods from your diet.
- Switch to five meals a day.
- Eat 20-30 g of a bitter bar daily.
- Get enough sleep.
- Go in for sports.
- The day before fasting, dinner should be as light as possible, and before bed it is better to drink a glass of skimmed yogurt.
Fasting
- The recommended daily volume is 100 g of dark chocolate.
- Consumption pattern: divide into 5 equal portions, which should be eaten at equal intervals.
- Treats are allowed to be washed down with drinks such as green tea (it is possible with various fat-burning additives in the form of cinnamon or lemon) and herbal teas. Yogurt and milk do not really fit into the scheme, but as an exception, if they are skimmed, they are also allowed. All of the above should be unsweetened.
- It is imperative to adhere to the drinking regime — at least 2 liters of pure water.
- Physical activity is contraindicated on this day. Only a short walk and 10-minute morning exercises are possible.
- As soon as you feel dizziness or nausea, it is recommended to drink sweet tea and lie down. And eat a full meal after half an hour. These side effects are alarming signals that this weight loss method is contraindicated for
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