With Easter around the corner, now is a great time to pay tribute to chocolate. If you have ever wondered why you enjoy chocolate so much, there’s actually a sound, scientific reason – and it can even improve your health. However, like all good things, moderation is the key if you want to enjoy its health benefits (without impacting on your weight). Read on to find out more about our favourite comfort.
The reason why you love chocolate is because it actually contains chemicals that make you fall in love with it! Chocolate helps to boost the release serotonin, dopamine and endorphins – these are all mood-boosting chemicals that are produced in your brain. These are more commonly called your ‘happy’ hormones.
Recent research indicates that chocolate may be good for your heart. Scientists have discovered that chocolate contains stearic acid, a type of fat that may lower LDLs, or the ‘bad’ cholesterol. Chocolate also contains antioxidants – the same ones in tea, red wine and many fruits and vegetables – that help may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. When it comes to chocolate and health, it appears to be the darker the better. Dark chocolate contains more cocoa and therefore more potent plant antioxidants.
While we can all appreciate how great chocolate is – and this blog has really been a tribute to everyone’s guilty indulgence – just remember that all types of chocolate can still pile on the calories so moderation is the key to good health and keeping your weight under control in the long term. For example, if you are thinking of polishing off a medium sized milk-chocolate egg (50g) over the Easter holidays, just remember that you are consuming an extra 272 calories and a massive 28g of sugar (almost 6 teaspoons). It would take 1.5 hours of walking at a brisk pace to ‘burn’ off the calories from the egg: so it does really pay to think before you overdo it over the Easter holiday.
The Natural Way offers great dietary advice to all of their weight loss clients all year round…not just at Easter! If you have been struggling to manage your weight, you need to talk to the weight loss experts. After all, we have been in business for over 35 years, and we know we can help you to get back the body you want!
Call 1300 SLIMMER (754663) now, and make a FREE appointment to talk to your The Natural Way consultant about your weight and health goals. We know we have a lifestyle friendly program can be tailored to suit your needs. Mail Order (Ph 0458 754 663) and Online shop available; https://thenaturalway.com.au/products/