Are you trying to lose a few pounds for a special event? Want to look (and feel) better for yourself? Perhaps you’ve even made a new year’s resolution to eat clean. One issue remains: those chocolate cravings. We’ve all heard that eating clean involves swearing off all candy. Chocolate is a weakness of ours too – we just wish it didn’t contain so many calories. If you don’t quite have the willpower to quite banish chocolate from your life just yet, we’ve got good news for you: you might not have to! Read on to discover everything you need to know about chocolate and your health. 

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Yes, yes, chocolate is calorific due to its high sugar and fat content. It has also been associated with diabetes, hypertension, acne and other conditions. You’ve heard the recommendation that people looking to lose weight should eat it only in moderation, and that remains true. However, not all chocolate is made equal! Dark chocolate brings good news for all you chocolate addicts. 

You might have noticed that dark chocolate tends to be more bitter. The darker the chocolate, the less sugar it contains. However, it does bring some pretty sweet benefits to both your physical and mental health! Here are the two main ones.     

Improving Insulin Sensitivity 

Without getting too technical, Insulin is the hormone in our bodies that gets sugar into your cells from your bloodstream so it can be used for energy, regulating blood sugar levels. Research suggests that dark chocolate improves your body’s sensitivity to this hormone. This means that less Insulin needs to enter the bloodstream, which is associated with reduced fat storage and increased weight loss. 

Dark chocolate also helps to regulate blood sugar levels. Erratic blood sugar levels often increase the feelings of hunger and fatigue that incentivise us to eat. So, dark chocolate reduces cravings and makes us feel fuller for longer, the key to weight loss.    

Enhancing Your Mood

Do you feel extra-content after eating dark chocolate? That may be no coincidence! Dark chocolate consumption has been associated with reduced stress levels and lower chances of depressive symptoms. Feelings of calmness and contentment have also been reported after dark chocolate consumption, which we don’t find too hard to believe! Dark chocolate has massive benefits for mental health and motivation, which may help to advance your weight loss journey.  

Looking to satisfy those dark chocolate cravings? Let us give you a whistle-stop tour of Chocogram’s range of dark chocolate products: 

  • Dark Chocolate Fix: keeping it simple and classic, get our delicious Belgian couverture dark chocolate to spice up a dull day, or put a smile on a loved one’s face.  
  • Vegan Birthday Gift: sometimes vegans deserve nice things, too! Get this indulgent box of 21 vegan chocolates for a special someone’s birthday. 
  • Dark Chocolate Stiletto: sleek, sophisticated and simply delicious, this one will keep her on her toes.  
  • Hugs and Kisses – Dark: perfect for Valentine’s Day! Get this box of 14 chocolates to convey your love for someone who makes your life sweeter. 

There you have it, now enjoy your next piece of dark chocolate guilt-free. As long as you’re reading product labels and enjoying it in moderation, chocolate can bring some serious health benefits. There’s no need to completely cut it out of a healthy diet. Give us some of that velvety, sweet goodness any day!