Dark chocolate- Yes or No?

Can this cause weight gain? How much can I have?

Well technically, dark chocolate is not bad for your health, it has some antioxidants.

The irony is that, in today’s generation, our food is so deprived of nutrients that we have to depend on a high-fat piece of chocolate to get some antioxidants.

The Mayans used chocolate to spice their beverages around 2000 B.C., it has since been a treat. Today, chocolate and chocolate products are a big industry.

Sure, cacao beans do have some amazing benefits, but who really is eating cacao powder anymore? Our chocolates have sugar and cocoa butter, both, not the healthiest place to get our antioxidants.

Cocoa is rich in flavanol. Cocoa flavanols contain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and free-radical scavenging properties, and dark chocolate has a high cocoa content, therefore it provides a variety of health benefits. Although, if you are seeking just nutrients, berries would be a better alternative. Heck, even a cup of leafy greens will have all the benefits without the sugar and fat.

But eating Green’s over chocolate…. that’s not happening.

If one piece of dark chocolate helps you to stay on track with the rest of your meals, then go for it. .

This comes under the principles of Psycho- dietetics (psychology+ nutrition).

Trick your mind to stay on track by using that little ‘love meal’ every night after dinner. It won’t make much of a difference to your health, but your mind is trained to believe that you get to reward yourself for eating healthy all day.

What does science say?

Research shows that psychodietetics is increasingly used in the treatment of food-related diseases. It is a scientifically-backed method to treat eating habits.

It is a combination of biological, psychological, and societal factors in studying eating habits. In this aspect, dietary recommendations are usually made keeping in mind the psychological processes and patient personality.

So ask yourself, is that little bit of chocolate going to help you stay on track? Then make it part of your lifestyle. After all, we all know so many people who eat a little bit of dark chocolate every day and are still fit.

Trust this helps,

Roshni Sanghvi.