- Mechanism of weight loss
- Benefits and risks
- Contraindications
- How to choose?
- Recommendations
- Options
Many are wondering why a chocolate fasting day is recommended in dietetics for tasty and fast weight loss. Can such a caloric and sweet product really reduce weight? As it turns out, such miracles happen, but we do not know much about our body. If you are scared of dull diets, then this option is a real find for you.
Mechanism of weight loss
Chocolate fasting day was developed by nutritionists long ago, and its effect on the body has been fully studied. The weight loss becomes possible thanks to the cocoa beans, which:
- prevent the development of insulin resistance (which is the most common cause of obesity) and enhance the regulation of glucose consumption;
- support the healthy intestinal microflora, due to which food is digested faster;
- remove inflammation in the body, which can provoke excessive weight gain;
- reduce depression, which means it is no longer necessary to “eat away” stress;
- accelerate metabolism;
- effectively break down fats, removing them from the body (although this is a rather lengthy process, which cannot be completed during one day, but you will at least start it).
So it is no wonder that chocolate, in spite of its high caloric content (more than 500 kcal per 100 g), is just as useful for weight loss as many other dietary products. And the results of such fasting days are the confirmation of this. If everything is done correctly, you can lose up to 1.5 kg.
Where the name comes from. The word “chocolate” came from the Mayan language, where “xocolatl” meant “bitter water”.
Benefits and risks
Choosing this dessert as a method of weight loss, you need to know about its benefits and the potential risks.
Benefits:
- prevents cardiovascular diseases;
- reduces the risk of strokes and myocardial infarctions due to prevention of blood clots;
- prevents diabetes by controlling the process of glucose absorption by the body;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- increases the elasticity of blood vessels;
- alleviates autoimmune diseases;
- stimulates intellectual activity, improves memory and activates mental processes;
- the substances with antioxidant properties prevent the formation of tumors;
- polyunsaturated acids remove harmful cholesterol.
Risks:
- damages tooth enamel;
- causes food addiction;
- high caloric content;
- a minimal daily portion provokes hunger attacks – it can be rather difficult to endure;
- lack of variety in the diet;
- among the side effects are nausea and dizziness;
- fainting is possible;
- often provokes gastrointestinal disorders;
- contributes to skin rashes.
Obvious harm from such fasting days can be observed only in extreme cases: when contraindications were ignored or the recommended dosage was exceeded.
Additional information. Chocolate improves heart function, strengthens blood vessels and cleans them from cholesterol plaques.
Contraindications
Chocolate fasting days are not recommended 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 chocolate eaten per day will not provoke aggravation of gout or osteochondrosis, but unpleasant side effects are quite possible.
Do you know that… chocolate contains “theobromine” – a substance that makes this product toxic to animals?
How to choose?
The range of chocolate products available today is so diverse that it is difficult to choose. Porous, dessert, vegan, diabetic, powder, liquid… Which type will facilitate maximum weight loss during a fasting day? After all, it is worth making a mistake in this matter – and instead of losing extra weight, you can, on the contrary, gain it.
- Black / dark / bitter
The most optimal option, which nutritionists recommend to lose weight with, is dark chocolate. It has the highest content of cocoa beans, which are responsible for weight loss: more than 55%. It is better to choose marks starting from 75% – there will be more benefits. Such a product is sold labeled “bitter”. If the numbers are lower, the packaging will indicate “dark” or “black”.
- Milk
Of course, it is much more pleasant to lose weight on milk chocolate, as it has a very delicate and soft taste and literally melts in your mouth. However, the content of cocoa beans in it is minimal, which is why all the hardships of the fasting day can go unnoticed. Moreover, milk powder or cream with 2.5% fat content in its composition are far from being dietary products, and there is almost no benefit from them. That is why nutritionists do not recommend this type.
- White
You can find everything on the Internet. Even a paradox, like a menu of a fasting day on white chocolate. Although this delicacy does not contain a single gram of cocoa beans, which start all the processes in the body that lead to weight loss. So there is nothing more useless for fighting extra pounds.
Other varieties also have no value in the matter of weight loss, so you can decisively bypass them.
Interesting fact. The most expensive chocolate is “Chocopologie by Knipschildt”. 453 g of this delicacy cost $2,600.
Recommendations
To achieve results, learn how to correctly conduct a fasting day and come out of it without harming your health.
Preparation
A chocolate diet is a real stress for the body, which may not react to it the way you want at all. That is why it is so important to prepare it for this event in advance. To do this, 2-3 days before it, take the following measures.
- Start drinking plenty of water.
- Gradually exclude alcohol, carbonated drinks, fried foods, pickled, smoked, fatty, salty foods, and fast foods from your diet.
- Switch to five meals a day.
- Eat 20-30 g of dark chocolate daily.
- Get enough sleep.
- Go in for sports.
- On the eve of the diet, dinner should be as light as possible, and it is better to drink a glass of skim milk before going to bed.
Diet
- The recommended daily amount is 100 g of dark chocolate.
- Way of use: divide it into 5 equal portions which should be consumed at equal time intervals.
- It is allowed to drink the delicacy with such drinks as green tea (it is possible with various fat-burning additives like cinnamon or lemon) and herbal teas. Kefir and milk do not quite fit into the scheme, but as an exception, if they are skim, they are also allowed. All of the above should be unsweetened.
- It is extremely important to observe the drinking regimen – at least 2 liters of clean water.
- Physical activity on this day is contraindicated. Only a short walk and 10-minute morning exercises are possible.
- As soon as you feel dizzy or nauseous, it is recommended to drink sweet tea or eat a spoonful of honey
