In this post I’m going to give you the real deal when it comes to chocolate for weight loss and my goal by the end of this post is to give you with a clear idea on whether or not you should be consuming it in your nutrition program. In recent years there has been a lot of new coverage with the media telling us that chocolate was good for us, but they usually leave out one important thing.
See there’s a huge difference between processed sugary chocolate and it’s raw state cocoa also known as cacao. The tasty and delicious chocolate that most of us are familiar with is the same one that’s loaded up with sugar and milk.
But the chocolate that is actually good for us is the unprocessed ground cocoa beans that are preferably in raw form. If you’re used to eating the traditional Hershey’s chocolate then you’ll be shocked at the lack of taste in cocoa. I was a little taken back when I first tried it but now I’ve grown use to the flavor and really like it.
To give you a little background on cocoa beans they were more revered than gold to the Mayans and the Aztecs. They would use the cocoa beans for money!
One of the big reasons why chocolate for weight loss is so effective is because of the naturally occurring antioxidants it contains. Research by Cornell University found the antioxidants in cocoa are 2x’s stronger than red wine and 2-3x’s stronger than green tea.
They found the polyphenols, natural organic chemicals, in cocoa have been found to promote cardiovascular, skin and brain health as well. This is mostly due to epicatechin which is highly present in the cocoa bean and there’s so many in it that it kicks green teas butt! But also take a look at my best weight loss teas you can drink too.
So Does Chocolate for Weight Loss Work
A 2005 Japanese study found mice who ate cocoa lost more fatty tissue than the rats that didn’t. I know that you’re probably thinking that humans are a little more evolved than mice but our DNA and theres is surprisingly similar. In fact our DNA and mice are 97.5% the same!
Even if you’re not a fan of chocolate you should be eating it anyway if not for the weight loss properties but for the other health benefits. But this doesn’t mean you get to start digging into the Hershey bars because they’re jam packed with sugar.
And the sugar is what’s going to spike your blood sugar levels and thus release insulin which is what’s going to cause you to pack on the belly fat. Cocoa fortunately is low on the glycemic index scale and it won’t spike your blood sugar.
The British Journal of Nutrition found those who ate cocoa had a 20% reduction in oxidative stress but it needs to become a regular part of your diet because the effects would disappear after less than 2 days.
How Do You Take Chocolate For Weight Loss?
What I usually do is just take a tablespoon of raw cocoa powder and throw it into my morning super shake. It helps to sweeten up the shake and it’s a lot easier to consume it then take it separately.
But just make sure you find it in the most raw and unprocessed form possible. You usually won’t be able to find it in most big chain grocery stores so be sure to make a trip down to your local health food store to pick some up.
Overall I recommend taking chocolate for weight loss but only in the raw cocoa form. It’s not going to significantly help you lose fat but it is going to be another piece to the puzzle. You’re still going to have to make sure you’re on a great nutrition program as well as a killer fat loss workout program to see real results.
Josh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition Science. He’s a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and he’s a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) by American Council on Exercise. He’s worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the high school and college levels. He has over 15 years of experience as a personal trainer and nutrition coach. He strives to bring inspiration and results for people to live healthier lives through smart diet and exercise.