Chocolate Doesn't Make You Fat
Who doesn’t like chocolate? It’s hard to resist. And, yet, some do – often, for health reasons. But what if we told you that chocolate doesn’t make you fat?
Does chocolate deserve its bad reputation? For a very long time, people have accepted the notion that chocolate, because of its fat and sugar, leads to weight gain or increased cholesterol. However, researchers from the University of Granada have recently obliterated the myth that chocolate ruins your diet and makes you portly. What’s with this conspiracy against chocolate? Why has the idea persisted that it contributes to bigger waistlines and the need for larger clothes?
In spite of the smear campaigns, chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which are extremely beneficial for the body because these vitamins are vital to human health.
Coronary artery disease is one of the diseases improved by this food. This is so because cocoa is an effective antioxidant, is antithrombotic and is equally anti-inflammatory.
Studies say…chocolate doesn’t make you fat
A relatively recent study published in Nutrition magazine analysed the way that chocolate influences or promotes fat accumulation in the areas of the abdomen and other parts of the body that tend to store fatty deposits. Perhaps the most impressive conclusion that was reached by the research is that chocolate is actually lower in fat than any other food. Therefore, it won’t negatively affect any exercise routine or diet regime that you are following. In other words: enjoy (in moderation)!
Need further convincing? The HELENA study (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) gathered together teenagers between the ages of twelve and seventeen years – 1,458 teenagers in total. The purpose of their research was to examine the dietary habits of youth in several European countries, one of which was Spain.
Body measurements were taken, physical activity was monitored and analyses of the participants’ diets were recorded. Results were independent of the specific foods eaten or in which physical activities the test subjects engaged. Researchers stated that foods should be valued neither for their biological impact on the body nor for their caloric content.
Resoundingly, the study concluded that chocolate isn’t a real factor in obesity. However, researchers did issue a caveat: that its consumption should be controlled. Their consensus was this: ‘In moderation, chocolate can be healthy, but eating too much of it is definitely harmful because too much of a good thing can be bad.’
Finally, research emphasises that chocolate is not dangerous – especially if you’re concerned that it will lead to increased weight gain. Let common sense be your guide: do not eat too much of it and always bear in mind that everyone’s different. Food that can be dangerous for some can be a boon to someone else’s overall health.
