14 DAY TRIAL // It may seem too good to be true, but the latest study says that eating plenty of chocolate can actually keep you slim. Researchers from Granada University's School of Medicine report finding a strong link between high chocolate consumption and low levels of body fat.
After analyzing data from almost 1,500 adolescents from Europe with ages between 12 and 17, the researchers from the HELENA Group showed that higher chocolate intake among teenagers was linked to lower levels of total fat and fat around the middle, regardless of other factors (including exercise).
Previous studies have shown the multiple benefits of chocolate, such as antioxidant effects, protection against cardiovascular disease, anti-clotting or anti-inflammatory proprieties.
According to Dr. Susanna C. Larsson, cocoa beans, as well as chocolate, contain a group of compounds called flavonoids, which decrease blood concentrations of bad cholesterol and reduce blood pressure.
Rather than influencing the accumulation of body fat, eating chocolate constantly and from an early age can actually be the best way to keep yourself slim. People who admitted to eating chocolate in larger amounts had lower levels of fat than those abstaining from indulging in it.
Chocolate is known to contain more calories than many other foods, and those calories make the metabolism work harder, getting rid of the fat. This is actually why it is recommended to eat chocolate from an early age, so that your metabolism can learn to work hard and not be lazy when you get older.
Studies have also shown that diets based on eliminating certain groups of foods and starving do not work. While completely eliminating treats such as chocolate, people often compensate by eating more of something else and still have no result.
We all have that friend who can eat as much as they want and never get fat: well, that is because their metabolism is working harder, but that doesn't necessarily mean they were big chocolate consumers while growing up.