If you are someone who is on a diet, one common suggestion which pops up from many people is to stay away from chocolates. If you are a chocolate lover, this could be heart breaking for you. However, the scientific studies have broken this taboo. Send chocolates by post to your friend, who is on a diet. It is found that dark chocolate can effectively aid your efforts of weight loss. Wondering how? Then check this out.

Accelerates metabolism:

The fat and carbohydrates metabolism are significantly affected by chocolates. The chocolates show their impact on fatty acid synthesis. In this way, they promote digestion in our body helping us to absorb carbohydrates effectively. A feeling of satiety can be experienced by including chocolates in our diet. However, not every chocolate is capable of producing same results. Dark chocolate has a great reputation in this context.

Controls appetite:

The appetite is controlled by the hormones like leptin, ghrelin and insulin. The sugar produced in our body is transported to various cells with the help of insulin. Leptin decreases the appetite and the ghrelin works exactly in the opposite way. If you can’t feel full, the major reason could be that your body is resistant to insulin. To regain this ability, start loving dark chocolates and send chocolates to your loved ones to help them lose weight. It can lower your resistance towards insulin and also retard the production of ghrelin hormone.

Sense of well being:

Are you wondering how the ‘sense of well being’ is related to weight loss? When you feel good, you don’t fell like having too much food. The dark chocolate constitutes polyphenols as one of its major constituents which has a significant effect on our sense of well being. Regular consumption of dark chocolate helps us to stay calm. It is also a good source of the lipid, “anandamide”. This chemical compound breaks down in no time and provides instant energy.

Calories produced by chocolates:

A chocolate which contains 60% cocoa content can provide us as much as 170 calories. Avoid over eating of dark chocolate. A moderate way of consuming it would be two to three times per week.

Fat content:

You need certain saturated fats to lose weight! You heard it right. Not all fats make you put on weight. Oleic acid, stearic acid and palmatic acid are the major types of saturated fats supplied by dark chocolates. These compounds are capable of lowering cholesterol levels.

Promotes your workouts:

Do you know that dark chocolates can kill the pain? When you feel less pain, you will be encouraged to spend some excess time in the gym. The chocolates contain anti-inflammatory chemicals, which on reacting with magnesium makes us feel lesser pain.

Tips to include chocolate in your diet:

• Search for the ways to include chocolate in breakfast, lunch as well as dinner.
• Start your day with a chocolate drink. Add cocoa power and artificial sweetener in skimmed milk to make a typical chocolate drink. Check out new such recipes every day.
• Always carry chocolate bars with you.

Apart from weight loss, dark chocolate also fetches us many other health benefits. It stabilizes blood sugar levels in our body, makes you feel relaxed and curbs your desire to eat junk foods.

Both the genders enjoy eating chocolates, but let us accept it; women are absolutely crazy about chocolates. The moment you ask them what gift they want, their prompt answer is chocolates. But have you ever wondered why women are so crazy about chocolates? The craving for chocolate is directly linked to stress, low blood sugar, or change of hormones before the menstrual cycle.

The association with blood sugar level – Caffeine and sugar in chocolate together raise the blood sugar level. Also, dark chocolate has very less index level, and thus it is good in stabilizing the blood sugar levels. Primary reason why most woman and also at times men crave for chocolate is due to their fallen blood sugar levels, which can be balanced by sugar which is given by chocolates. If ever you feel irritated, moody or fatigued, specifically in between meals, the craving for chocolates is then a consequence of a low level of blood sugar.

Association with serotonin levels – Consuming chocolates makes one feel good since it increases the serotonin level in the brain. It is a neurotransmitter, which is responsible for giving way to feelings of happiness. Most woman go through low levels of serotonin around a week before their menstruation, and this is one reason why women having a crazy craving for chocolates. Also, high level of stress makes men and women crave for chocolate due to the increased serotonin level, which leads to lowering ones anxiety. If you need some comfort, you can rely on chocolates. If you are emotionally unwell, consume chocolates since they raise the levels of serotonin and thus help you forget about your problems at least for a short period of time.

Association with the menstrual cycle – Along with fat, sugar and caffeine, chocolate also has trace minerals such as magnesium that is usually deficient in women during menstruation. The change of the hormonal levels before and during those seven days gives both to different food cravings, one of which is chocolate. They say that some women want nothing else but chocolates. As per few scientists, the craving for chocolates among menstruating women is a cultural phenomenon. According to studies, American women crave for chocolates more than ladies from other counties, mostly since they are always concerned sugar levels in chocolates and hence take them as an indulgence. It is also believed by some experts that the craving might also be psychological because PMS gives women a justified reason to enjoy chocolates.

Chocolate is quite addictive – Research has also proved that chocolate has alkaloid compounds, which also make alcohol an addiction. Hence, experts say there is basis to look at chocolates as being addictive. Chocolates also contain anandamine, which is a compound scientist say stimulates the brain just the way marijuana does. However, these claims are still quite debatable among doctors.

And, of course, we all love chocolate for its extraordinary taste. There is no sweet sweeter than chocolates. This Christmas if you are planning to send some parcel of love to your loved ones, send them chocolates by post.