“Stop eating chocolate in order to lose weight”, a common saying that never gets old whenever someone is looking for a way to lose some extra kilograms or is suffering from obesity. Interestingly, and against the longlasting convention, a recent study assumed that chocolate doesn’t cause weight gain but increases the metabolic rate and accordingly would lead to weight loss.
Mosaad: some kinds of chocolate like the dark which would include high percentages of caffeine could help progressify the process of weight loss
Dr Nahla Mosaad, expert in therapeutic nutrition, said that some kinds of chocolate like the dark which would include high percentages of caffeine could help progressify the process of weight loss if eaten in average amounts and as part of a nutritional diet prescribed to lead to weight loss.
Mossad added that it could be argued to be a misconception that some food would lead to weight loss while other would cause weight gain. Moderate amounts from each constituent and including it in the proper timing of the day would be the factor to determine weight loss or gain.
Mosaad: Eating a cube of dark chocolate within 3 hours after a main meal, would stimulate the body’s metabolism
“Eating a cube of dark chocolate within 3 hours after a main meal, would stimulate the body’s metabolism and provide it with energy required for exercising”, Mossad mentioned. However, no one should argue that chocolate could help them lose weight unless it is part of a specific diet.
Dr Sayed Hammad, nutritionist and assistant professor at the National Institute of Nutrition, said active ingredients inside chocolate are beneficial for the human body if consumed with proper rates since it could help in balancing the blood pressure inside the body since it includes Magnesium, Potassium and proteins. However, these beneficial ingredients are only present inside raw chocolate not the industrialized ones which include massive amounts of fats and sugars that would harm the body and cause severe obesity not the reverse.
Hammad: Cocoa is an integral part of many diets, but in limited amounts and without additions of sugars or milk
Hammad added to “Trendify” that Cocoa would be an integral part of many diets, but in limited amounts and without additions of sugars or milk since such additions would make chocolate a high-calorie snack that would bring about opposite results to those intended from a diet.
Chocolate should not be promoted as a means of metabolic rate progression since these messages would deceive many people, Hammad mentioned. Criteria about use and type of low-fat chocolates that suit each body type and specifications should be provided and customized to any patient.
Dr Mohamed Akmal, nutritionist, said that such alleged claims that chocolate would lead to weight loss are wrong since all the chocolate available in the Egyptian market are extremely high in calories and sugars.
Akmal: The additions to chocolates sold in the Egyptian market would be argued to be an even more effective source for weight gain
Akmal added to “Trendify” that the additions to chocolates sold in the Egyptian market would be argued to be an even more effective source for weight gain. On the other hand, raw chocolate would be a healthy nutrient even if it won’t lead to weight loss, but it could lead to weight maintenance.
Dr Osama Fekry, digestive system consultant for clinical nutrition said to “Trendify” that Chocolate itself shouldn’t be part of the weight gain or loss debate. Sugar additions in different amounts to raw chocolate would be the reason why chocolate would lead to weight gain and the false, yet common conception about a healthy snack to prevail.
Chocolate could serve as a diet element under certain restrictions in order to provide the body with certain needed nutrients. However, it would be a big mistake to argue that chocolate could be a tool for weight loss, according to Fekry.
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