Are regular chocolate consumers thinner than others? A study by the California University of San Diego confirms this hypothesis. People who eat chocolate several times a week are on average thinner than those who allow themselves this pleasure only once in a while. The experiment was carried out on nearly 1,000 healthy Americans with no body build or cholesterol problems. Besides the fact that these volunteers were not overweight, this was a panel that exercised regularly.
Eat chocolate often, no matter how much
Main finding made at the end of the experiment: a regular intake of chocolate is associated with a lower body mass index, observes the survey published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Where does this supposed slimming effect of chocolate come from? Researchers highlight the fact that chocolate, despite its high calorie content, contains ingredients that could promote weight loss rather than fat storage.
To stay slim, it would be more the frequency with which we eat chocolate that would be important. More than the amount of chocolate.
Scientists believe that this slimming effect of chocolate is linked to the content of catechins, its antioxidants which promote weight loss and muscle finesse.
The other virtues of chocolate
Chocolate makes us feel good. This is not the first study to extol its merits. The benefits of dark chocolate against hypertension were highlighted in particular in a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Chocolate is also renowned for being aantidepressanteffective. Besides magnesium, it contains theobromine, a stimulant as well as tyramine and phenylethylamine, two substances close to amphetamines which play on the feeling of well-being.
More surprisingly, a study showed that the polyphenols present in dark chocolate would offer a UV protection.
If we have plenty of reasons to fall for chocolate, be careful of the liver attack!
>> To read also: The slimming benefits of chocolate
>> To read also: Chocolate dessert recipes
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