Studies show that dark chocolate may reduce cravings and promote feelings of fullness, which may help support weight loss. In one study in 12 women, smelling and eating dark chocolate decreased appetite and reduced levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates hunger ( 10 ).
Chocolate Can Lower Your Body Mass Index
A BMI figure of 25 to 29.9 is classified as overweight, while 30 or greater is considered obese. Studies have shown that the frequent consumption of small amounts of dark chocolate is good for weight loss and can help to lower the BMI number over time.
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, or plant-based compounds that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as important minerals like zinc, copper, and magnesium.
And even though quality dark chocolate is a better choice than milk chocolate, it is still chocolate, meaning it's high in calories and saturated fat. To avoid weight gain, Amidor recommends eating no more than 1 ounce (oz) of dark chocolate per day.
For those chocolate lovers, stick to dark chocolate that is at least 70% cacao to get the most health benefit.
You can eat chocolate on a diet and yes, it is okay to eat chocolate every day.
The key to enjoying chocolates without putting on weight is the right timing of its consumption, hands down. The best bet is to have chocolate, in moderation, of course, during the first half of the day; so that your body can utilise the calories when its metabolism is at its fastest best.
Go for a dark chocolate or a dark coconut milk chocolate if you're looking to maximize health benefits— it's not just a lower cacao content that makes a milk chocolate less good for you. The proteins in animal milk bind to the antioxidants in chocolate, making them unavailable for your body to use.
Lindt Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% and 90% Cocoa
Lindt dark chocolate is the OG of healthy supermarket desserts – high in heart-friendly flavonoids and low in sugar.
Amul 99% Cacao Chocolate
This dark chocolate bar by the brand is a vegetarian product and can easily be accommodated into most of the diet plans. This chocolate bar does not contain any added sugar making it a healthy choice for those who do not want to add on any unwanted calories to the body.
Helps Maintain Your Weight
While sugar requires more time to metabolise and can be converted into fat by your body, eating chocolates free of sugar will not only help reduce weight but also work against inflammation and improve your circulation.
Fat free and only 20 calories per packet, Nestlé No Sugar Added, Fat Free Rich Chocolate Flavor Hot Cocoa Mix is a great choice for today's health-conscious employees and customers.
Made of 100% cacao, baking chocolate is a very low-carb chocolate for purists. Also known as “baker's chocolate” it has absolutely no sweetener added, so fewer carbs and calories than any of the healthy chocolate bars above.
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news – but chocolate is chocolate, and should never be considered a 'health' food. It's choc-full of saturated fat which is bad for your heart, as well as added sugar which can be detrimental to your teeth.
Russell Stover Sugar-Free Chocolate
Even more, these sugar-free chocolates are completely organic, made out of stevia which is a naturally occurring sweetener. Stevia is known to have zero calories in it, making it even suitable for diabetic patients.
Also, chocolate is high in sugar and saturated fat. It is a high-energy (high calorie) food, and too much can result in excess weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Why do so many of us get so fat? the answer appears obvious. “The fundamental cause of obesity and overweight,” the World Health Organization says, “is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.” Put simply, we either eat too much or are too sedentary, or both.
You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should be eaten on an empty stomach or 30 minutes after a solid-food meal. They can also be eaten as a snack between lunch and dinner.
There are 114 calories in 2 squares (20 g) of Lindt Dark Chocolate 78%.