It turns out that eating chocolate first thing in the morning has some impressive health benefits. A recent randomized controlled trial showed that eating a large amount of milk chocolate (100 grams) within 1 hour of waking up in the morning actually helps to burn body fat and lower blood sugar levels.
According to scientists, the best time to eat chocolate is between 9am to 11am as your palate has not been tainted by other flavours from lunch.
Eating chocolate in the morning may help burn body fat, decrease glucose levels, and improved microbiome health, thanks to the flavanol content, according to a new study. Food timing is a relevant factor in weight control.
According to medical experts, eating chocolate before your bedtime is a pretty bad idea. First of all, chocolates contain caffeine. While the amount may vary with each bar, caffeine in any amount isn't doing you any favours when it comes to getting deep sleep.
Chocolate also has a positive effect on our mood and mental health, which are essential for achieving weight-loss goals. The best time to eat chocolate is during the day. It's best not to eat it on an empty stomach or late in the evening as it's a stimulant containing caffeine.
You should try to not eat any chocolate after around 4 or 5 pm to give your body time to metabolize its caffeine. Generally, it's also a good idea to stop eating at least 2 hours before turning in for the night to give your food time to digest.
Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions and might also trigger migraine headaches. It can also cause nausea, stomach discomfort, constipation, and gas.
Consuming cocoa also reduces stress and anxiety (Psychology Today), both of which can keep us awake at night, so enjoying a cup, a bar, or a few squares before bed is sure to help you relax.
Morning or nighttime chocolate intake did not lead to weight gain; Eating chocolate in the morning or in the evening can influence hunger and appetite, microbiota composition, sleep and more; A high intake of chocolate during the morning hours could help to burn fat and reduce blood glucose levels.
So, if you have trouble falling asleep, we suggest you steer clear of it for sure. Here's a tip that will help: don't eat chocolate at least three hours before bedtime. This will ensure that there's enough time to digest your food before you sleep.
Low blood sugar might be to blame for intense morning sugar cravings. If your blood sugar isn't properly managed and maintained, it can fall extremely low during the night when you're not filling your body with food. When you wake up, your body craves sugar as a quick fix for low blood sugar.
The monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) present in dark chocolate is known to boost the metabolism which stimulates the body to burn calories faster. Studies have proved that chocolate affects the way our body synthesizes fatty acids and reduces the absorption of fats and carbohydrates.
Nutritionists recommend consuming chocolate often, in small portions. The daily allowance for adult men and women without health problems is 30-50 grams of dark chocolate every day. With high physical exertion, an increase in the norm by 1.5 times is allowed.
Chocolate also contains tryptophan, which stimulates serotonin and melatonin. And serotonin and melatonin are believed to help sleep.
“Sugary foods are likely to disrupt your sleep. The rule of thumb is that you shouldn't eat in the two hours before you go to sleep.” He recommends avoiding caffeine and switching off the TV an hour before bed. “There's a real biochemical drive to eat more sugar,” says Watts.
… Your two best friends for a restful night. Milk (and other dairy products) are a really good source of tryptophan. It's an amino acid that can help promote sleep, so it can come in particularly handy especially if you're used to tossing and turning before finally getting off to sleep.
The symptoms of chocolate addiction withdrawal include intense cravings for sweet foods, carbohydrate cravings, increased irritability, depressed mood, headaches, lack of energy, and exhaustion. Cutting back on chocolate may affect a person by causing withdrawal symptoms that may be uncomfortable.
Excessive consumption of anything is harmful to health, whether it is veggies or chocolate. One must not eat more than 30 to 60 grams of chocolate in a day. Consuming too much chocolate will increase your daily calorie count leading to weight gain and other issues.
Also, chocolate is high in sugar and saturated fat. It is a high-energy (high calorie) food, and too much can result in excess weight, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Healthier sources of polyphenols include beans, pulses, fruit and vegetables.
The short answer is yes, chocolate will make you fat just like calories from any other food will. This is why you need to practice portion control and choose the right chocolate.
Dark chocolate will help in decreasing the levels of insulin in the blood which is associated with weight loss and helps in reducing fat storage.