Follow Spain investment immigration and life in Spain: A Spanish study has found that eating more chocolate can actually help you stay slim. According to the analysis, chocolate appears to enhance metabolism, thereby preventing fat accumulation, and is also beneficial for the circulatory system, blood pressure, and heart health.
According to a report by the British newspaper The Daily Mail, a study has found that consuming large amounts of chocolate is actually one of the better ways to lose weight, which seems quite contrary to what people usually imagine.
Scientists at a university in Granada, Spain, studied 1,500 adolescents aged 12-17 from nine European countries, including Spain and the United Kingdom, focusing on their diet and health activities. They found that those who admitted to regularly eating large amounts of chocolate had lower levels of body fat in all areas compared to others under similar conditions. More importantly, regardless of whether they exercised regularly or were on a diet, their midsections were slimmer and flatter. The study also found that chocolate has a positive impact on human circulation, blood pressure, and heart health.
According to the analysis, this is because although chocolate may contain higher calories than many foods, it can make the human body's metabolism more efficient, thus offsetting the fat that might otherwise accumulate in various organs of the body.
However, the key is moderation. A recent survey poll found that 86% of successful dieters continue to enjoy their favorite foods. Nutritionist Janet Elliott, who conducted the survey, stated: "Extensive research proves that diets centered on deprivation are likely to end in failure. The key is to use a more relaxed approach and eat a little of the food you like."
Previous studies have also shown that diets that cut out foods like chocolate, red wine, and cookies can actually lead to weight gain, as dieters will "compensate" by eating more of other foods. Data shows that among dieters who avoid foods like chocolate, 65% actually gained weight. Compared to those who do not eat chocolate, those who eat it daily have a 29% lower chance of stroke and a 37% lower risk of heart disease.
The reason lies in the fact that a key element in chocolate is flavonoids derived from cocoa beans, which provide health benefits to the human body. Tea and red wine also contain flavonoids, which are a type of antioxidant that helps eliminate excess free radicals that can damage cells. Generally speaking, the higher the cocoa content in chocolate, the more flavonoids it contains, and the greater the health benefits. For example, dark chocolate contains 45% cocoa solids, and its flavonoid content is five times that of white chocolate and twice that of milk chocolate.
