Eat Chocolate to Lose Weight

Would you be surprised to hear that chocolate can help you lose weight?

Researchers at The University of Copenhagen have found that having a small piece of dark chocolate as a snack reduces cravings for sweet, salty and fatty foods, and helps you eat less. In the study, participants were given either milk or dark chocolate as a snack and then offered unlimited pizza 2 hours later. Those who had eaten the dark chocolate ate an average of 15% fewer calories than those who had eaten milk chocolate. The participants also reported feeling far less hungry, and much less hungry for sweet, salty or fatty foods. So dark chocolate, in addition to being full of anti-oxidants, can help you lose weight by avoiding some common diet pitfalls.

But before you load up on the candy bars, remember that the darker the chocolate, the better the benefits. Look for minimally processed chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa.  Also, chocolate is a rich, calorie dense food, so enjoy an ounce or two at the most.

Enjoy This Snack to Lose Weight and Get Healthy

Are you looking for a snack that tastes great and can help your lose weight. Try cashews!

Packed with protein and heart healthy oils, cashews are a great choice for a mid afternoon pick-me-up. One ounce of cashews contains 5 grams of protein and only 155 calories. What’s more, because they are nutrient rich, am afternoon snack of a handful of cashews fills you up, keeping hunger at bay until dinner.

Many people who are trying to lose weight avoid nuts, fearful of the calories and fat they contain. But studies have shown that people who eat nuts at least twice a week are 31% less likely to gain weight than those who almost never eat nuts.

Here are a few ways to add nuts back into your diet:

• Spread some cashew or almond butter on your morning toast or bagel.
• Remember how great peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are? Enjoy one for lunch today.
• Fill a celery stick with nut butter for a great afternoon snack.
• Add a handful of nuts to your morning cereal for some heart healthy crunch.
• Replace the meat in your stir-fry with raw cashews.

Go nutty and enjoy!