Fat Burning Foods No 3 Healthy Chocolate

The odd treat once in a while is vitally important to a successful weight loss regime. If your nutritional program doesn't allow for a little indulgence then it is probably doomed to failure unless you have super-human will power.

I've always had a very sweet tooth, and if I couldn't walk past a cake shop without going for a muffin, brownie or cake of some kind (it's a good job I don't live too near many cake shops!). But since I've been eating fat burning foods I've found that I don't crave sugary junk foods any more. And these two secret weapons are a major reason why:

1. Organic fruit 2.Dark chocolate.

I eat a lot of fruit; at least one portion with every meal. I find it incredibly tasty and satisfying, not to mention the numerous health benefits. I think I'd list mango and raspberries as my current favorites, but there is so much variety out there you're bound to find something you like. But if I really want to indulge myself then I go for some high quality dark chocolate.

Notice I say dark chocolate, my personal favorite is 90% cocoa. And I would never go below 70% cocoa because you'll get too many processed sugars and other junk creeping into the chocolate blend. NEVER go for milk or white chocolate by the way. You can read more about healthy chocolate on my blog.

Is Cocoa Good For You?

Did you know that a cup of cocoa contains 3 times as many antioxidants as a mug of green tea? That's right, cocoa is rich in plant antioxidants, flavonoids. Antioxidants are vital from protecting our body from the illness and disease that can be caused by free radicals. But that's not all cocoa has up its sleeve.

Cocoa is great at helping your body regulate appetite and control junk food cravings, and cravings for sugary foods. This is actually down to its naturally bitter taste.

I know that a lot of my friends will go for a chocolate bar when they are feeling low, or they are in need of a sugar hit. But they are probably only experiencing these lows in the first place because of their poor diet. Dark chocolate's bitter taste can help you manage these cravings. And because it has a much lower sugar content than milk and white chocolate it wont result in a spike in blood sugar levels. This means that you can keep your body out of fat storage mode and avoid those "lows" in the first place.

Cocoa butter is rich in stearic acid, which provides another method for controlling appetite. This fatty acid slows digestion, keeping you feeling full and satisfied for longer.

Portion Control

Just a few pieces at a time, every couple of days will provide you with all of the indulgence you'll ever need, and still keep calorie intake low.

If you are finding it hard to manage your sugar cravings then I would recommend giving dark chocolate a try. It can be really tough to get over your desire for junk food at the start of a healthy eating regime. But once you get over your desire for crap, and realize how good it makes you feel, it will be plain sailing from there on out.

Some people say it is too high in calories to be taken seriously as a health food. But because it helps you control your cravings you are less likely to go on a sugar binge. So dark chocolate is actually helping you to reduce your calorie intake!

I hope you enjoyed this article. Don't forget that this is only one of the delicious Fat Burning Foods out there that can help you lose weight. I cover my favorites in my Negative Calorie Foods website, why not come and learn about them all.