12 Ways Cocoa Promotes Weight Loss:
1. Optimizes Nutrition: Much of today’s diet is comprised of empty calories. If the body is not receiving the nutrients it needs, it produces the urge to eat more. Cocoa, on the other hand, is packed with vitamins and minerals, thus decreasing the urges for more “fuel.”
2. Balances Blood Sugar: Cocoa and dark chocolate help stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing hypoglycemic episodes & binge-eating behaviors. They also promote healthy insulin sensitivity & proper glucose metabolism, which minimizes the conversion of glucose into fat.
3. Normalizes Appetite: One of cocoa’s active compounds-anandamide-helps block the brain’s appetite centre. Anandamide “tricks” the mind into believing something sweet has been consumed, which satisfies cravings without added food intake.
4. Fights Depression: Cocoa stimulates the dopamine & norepinephrine pathways in the brain, which lessen depression and are associated with decreased appetite & weight loss.
5. Delivers Phenylethylamine (PEA): This chemical produces effects similar to those of amphetamine, which makes one feel euphoric & excited. Researchers also believe that PEA stimulates the production of dopamine in the brain’s pleasure centre. Helps to counter the depression typically associated with a restrictive dietary intake.
6. Increases Fiber: Surprisingly, cocoa is an excellent source of fiber, which helps block fat absorption, creates a feeling of fullness when eating, and is associated with decreased weight.
7. Boosts Endorphins: Cocoa increases the body’s endorphin levels, which naturally decreases the need to eat high-sugar, high-fat foods. The “high” one gets from eating dark chocolate supersedes any enjoyment one might get from eating, so the focus shifts to eating for nutrition rather than pleasure.
8. Increases Serotonin: This calming nuero-transmitter helps promote a balanced mood. Carbohydrates like chocolate help stimulate its production, and the alkaloids found in cocoa also help raise serotonin levels.
9. Relieves Inflammation: Cocoa’s primary compounds help relieve low-grade inflammation. Chronic inflammation is associated with low leptin levels, which increase appetite.
10. Delivers Theobromine: Similar to caffeine, (though not as strong), theobromine may produce a mild, pleasant stimulatory effect.
11.Substitutes Good for Bad: Instead of consuming high-calorie candy chocolate loaded with sugars, bad fats and other harmful ingredients, look for products that are high in cold-processed cocoa, provide high levels of cocoa’s flavonols & other nutrients, and are sweetened with natural sweeteners. This substitution will decrease bad fats, bad sugar & calorie intake & increase consumption of nutrients essential to the body.
12. Increases Energy: An added benefit of cocoa’s accumulative effects seems to be added energy, which can improve one’s ability to exercise & lessens the desire to seek out unhealthy foods as an energy source.
References:
1. Sabelli H, et al. Sustained antidepressant effect of PEA replacement. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 1996 Apr, *:2, 168-71
2. Matsui N, et al. Ingested cocoa can prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating the expression of genes for fatty acid metabolism. Nutrition. 2005 May; 21(5):594-601.
3. Macht M, Mueller J. Interactive effects of emotional and restrained eating on responses to chocolate and affect. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2007 Dec; 195 (12):1024-6.
4. Macht M, Mueller J. Immediate effects of chocolate on experimentally induced mood states. appetitie. 2007 Nov; 49 (3): 667-74
