Chocolate is a favorite for many people all over the world, and it has proven to be one of the most addictive foods. If you want someone to write a professional health related papers, pay a visit to termpapereasy.com.
Some people try so hard to avoid having chocolates but eventually give in to the urge, which leaves them feeling guilty. Presumed to be “bad food,” chocolates are also beneficial. Made from the cocoa plant, a rich source of health-protective plant nutrients, the same kind you’d get from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Benefits of chocolates
- Dark chocolate is the richest source of phytonutrients. It, however, has a slightly bitter taste, which makes it undesirable. Most athletes prefer sweeter chocolate, especially milk chocolate, with more sugar and saturated fats.
- Nitrate is a phytonutrient found in cocoa. It gets converted into the compound known as nitric oxide, which increases blood flow and enhances athletic performance if taken in high doses.
- Flavonoids are also types of phytonutrients found in cocoa. Epidemiologists suggest that regular consumers of chocolate have a lower risk of getting heart diseases
Disadvantages of chocolates
Would having two pieces of chocolate every day reduce the urge of having too much of it?
- Just like most people, Athletes consume a lot of chocolate in a day, posing a risk to their general health.
- Trying to deprive oneself of chocolates might lead to Binge-eating
Is it possible to take control of chocolate?
One of the easiest ways to take power away from chocolates if you have an addiction is to eat appropriate portions more often. Trying to stay away from chocolates might backfire, just like how fruits don’t have control over people’s lives, mainly because no one tries to avoid them. Creating a routine where one eats chocolates regularly as a dessert or an afternoon snack but in healthy quantities does not harm the body.
Deprivation leads to overeating in both adults and kids, Enjoying but self-regulating the intake of chocolates is the better path than completely staying away from chocolates.
Is it possible to manage sugar cravings?
Athlete bodies can get very hungry, and as a result, their bodies crave quick energy, sugar. It is possible to manage sugar cravings by starting the day with enough quality-calories. Many athletes, unfortunately, have no time to eat or believe that food is fattening; consequently, they get starved, which for most turns into a chocolate binge to satisfy their hunger.
- Have more breakfast and lunch to prevent hunger.
- Incorporate sweets in your overall daily food plan
Having chocolates for breakfast help with weight loss. According to a research study conducted on 193 obese subjects divided into two groups, half eat a 300-calorie protein-based breakfast. The other half eat a 600-calorie breakfast with protein plus chocolate cake for dessert.
Both groups eat the same amount of total calories: for women 1,400 and men 1,600. Each person losses 33 pounds averagely in both groups. In another16 weeks, the group with the smaller breakfast regained an average of 22 pounds per person. The group with dessert in their breakfast plan lose another 15 pounds each, making it about 40 pounds more than the other group.
Having dessert with breakfast lowers the urge for sweets later in the day because:
- Incorporating more calories in the morning for breakfast reduces the likelihood of feeling hungry, and so, it less likely for one to stray from the diet.
- Satisfying the cravings for sweets with dessert or a chocolate cake in the morning reduces the chances of getting tempted later in the day.
Conclusion
Chocolate is not the key to a healthy sports diet. Neither is snacking on lots of dark chocolate in place of fruits such as apples, oranges, and bananas. Chocolate can, however, be part of a well-balanced sports diet. Making sure it is well managed and doesn’t take the place of other nutrients dense and energy-giving foods. Eating a satisfying breakfast that leaves you feeling content. Incorporating chocolate as a dessert at breakfast as opposed to having it in excess at night helps control the amount one has in a day. There is a health difference between enjoying dessert after breakfast instead of after dinner, especially for chocoholics, you should eat what you want to eat, even chocolate, in an appropriate portion.
