The Skinny On Chocolate For Weight Management

The skinny on chocolate for weight management.

By Paul Anderson, M.D., D.A.P.M.

Can eating "lots of chocolate" really keep you looking lighter on the scale?

There has been a lot of media attention surrounding a new study from the University of California, San Diego that found a link between eating chocolate frequently and lower body mass index (BMI). Does this mean people should start eating chocolate candy every day to get thinner?

What’s important to understand is that the study was observational and based only on food-frequency questionnaires, which is a method of research that is limited in accuracy. For example, participants in the study may have over-reported (or under-reported) the amount of chocolate and other foods they ate. With this kind of research approach, it can be extremely difficult to ascertain consumption relative to amounts of calories.

Nevertheless, their findings are interesting. Why? Because a growing body of research has found that chocolate—the kind that is rich in antioxidant cocoa flavanols called catechins—offers several health benefits. In randomized, clinical trials, cocoa catechins have demonstrated positive effects on oxidative stress, cardiovascular health, and even the brain.

However, chocolate candy can be high in sugar, fat, and calories. Far from being helpful for weight loss, chocolate that’s high in sugar can naturally be expected to spike insulin in many people, which can ultimately result in binge eating.

Consumers also should take note that not all chocolates are processed in a way as to preserve the important flavanols that make them characteristically healthy. So, it would not be responsible to recommend the frequent eating ofany kind of chocolate as healthy despite the study’s results.

On the other hand, frequently eating a fair amount of quality, high-antioxidant chocolate that’s low in sugar could offer powerful effects on weight management. For example, chocolate can boost production of the right feel-good chemicals in the brain that are associated with positive mood, increased energy, and appetite control.

Isagenix IsaDelight Plus Chocolate represents a perfect way to take advantage of chocolate’s natural benefits on mood, appetite, and energy while also getting additional brain nutrients that magnify these effects. The high-antioxidant chocolates are fortified with glycine, niacinamide, glycine, GABA, and phenylalanine. With only a few grams of sugar in each piece, the chocolates deliver all the nutrients needed to promote production of those feel-good chemicals in the brain.

IsaDelight Plus Chocolate also contains green tea extract. Not only does the addition bring more antioxidant catechins to the chocolates, but recent research also shows it may even enhance fat-burning metabolism.

To gain the best health and weight management results for your body, forget the media hype and go for the good stuff—IsaDelight Plus Chocolates are delicious and provide the right combination of quality chocolate and nutrients for a healthy brain and body. What you can expect is to indulge in a decadent treat and obtain a positive mood, greater energy, curbed cravings and, finally, healthy weight loss.

Reference: Beatrice A. et al. Association Between More Frequent Chocolate Consumption and Lower Body Mass Index. Arch Inter Med. 2012;172(6):519-521. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2011.2100

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