FEEL GOOD
Chocolate has chemical called Theobromine and it releases a substance called Phenylalanine that boosts Seratonin. This is the feel good hormone that we all have, producing the same great feeling that we have when we fall in love, which is why chocolate was actually used as aphrodisiac in the 16th Century. Many chocolate lovers do say that they feel a 'high' when they are eating chocolate! But very often that feeling lasts only until you are left with the empty wrapper and that terrible feeling of guilt!
This time of year can be crucial for a dieter. Having just a little nibble of an Easter egg often leads to another & another &...
This can lead to feelings of failure which can drive dieters to throwing the towel in completely.
HEALTHY ATTITUDE
Chocolate needn't be the enemy though, new research has found that in moderation chocolate can actually be beneficial to to your health.
Polyphenols are substances found in Chocolate that act as antioxidants and help stop cholesterol from blocking your arteries, and so reducing the risk of heart disease.
There is also evidence to suggest that the pleasure we gain from indulging ourselves every now and then can have a positive effect on our immune system. On a psychological level, totally denying ourselves a favourite food can make us far more likely to binge, eating more than we would normally. Added to that, because of the way we treat chocolate as a bad, banned food, the feelings of guilt and disgust at our lack of self control can be enormous. And this for many of us starts the cycle all over again.
Chocolate, chips, sweets or any other food that we consider as bad food, should not be banished from our life completely. They can be a part of your diet as long as they are eaten in moderation and your diet is a healthy and balanced one.
Allowing yourself a 100% guilt free chocolate bar every now and then is a liberating experience! It is part of having a healthy attitude towards food.
BREAK THE HABIT
Of course, for many of us, eating chocolate in moderation is easier said than done! Some of us find it impossible to eat treats and know when to stop. And let's face it, pleasurable habits can be hard to break. But there are ways to control your chocolate habit and begin to re-educate yourself about the way you feel about food.
Most major Supermarkets have a wide range of low calorie and low fat foods that often include a variety of desserts, which let you have all of the pleasure of chocolate with a fraction of the fat. A word of warning though, it will not be effective if you decide to eat 5 at once! Why not try low fat chocolate mousses and low fat hot chocolate drinks?
Another effective way to get chocolate cravings under control is to use a stick on patch. 'Crave Control Patches' have a powerful but pleasant aroma that works on a subconscious level as it is a smell that your brain associates with sweet food like chocolate. Because your brain is bombarded with the scent all day it stops your cravings because it has been tricked into thinking you have more than enough already! Trust us, it works! A study at St George's Hospital in London has shown that in a clinical study, those wearing the patches lost more than twice the weight of those who did not use them.
There is no denying that chocolate will always have a special place in our heart - but it is possible to indulge without letting the craving control our life. So before you take that first nibble of an Easter egg or that first chocolate out of the box, think - do you know when to stop?! If you are the kind of person who cannot eat chocolate in moderation, perhaps you need to go cold turkey!
