Eat chocolate and lose weight! Effective chocolate unloading

The chocolate diet is an easy way to quickly lose weight. This can be felt already in the first three days.

Tasty and sweet weight loss works even more effectively than the popular “buckwheat diet.” And the best part is that you can eat at any time of the day.

The chocolate diet is divided into classic and chocolate-drinking.

General rules

Among the products used for fasting days, such a seemingly unsuitable product as chocolate is used.
However, despite its relatively high calorie content, it can also be used in a fasting nutrition system. Let's say right away that we are talking about high-quality dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 72 percent or more. It is not recommended to use white, milk, cream and other types of chocolate because they contain too much sugar and other undesirable ingredients. High-quality dark chocolate can contain only 3 ingredients: cocoa mass, cocoa butter and sugar/sweetener. The nutritional value of the product is determined by the properties and composition of cocoa beans. 100 dark chocolate contains proteins (6.5-7.8 g), fats (42.0-50.0 g), carbohydrates (45.5-52.0 g). It contains saturated/monounsaturated fatty acids, caffeine , theobromine , flavonoids , organic acids, dietary fiber, vitamins ( A , B1 , B2 , B5 , B6 , K , PP , E , lutein , beta-carotene, macro/microelements: zinc, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, calcium, iron, sodium, copper).

Calorie content, depending on the percentage of each chocolate component, varies between 460-540 kcal/100 g. Dark chocolate is a “fast” carbohydrate, but has a low glycemic index (about 30), unlike white and milk chocolate, the GI of which varies within 45-70, respectively, their use quickly increases blood sugar levels. The daily intake of dark dark chocolate is 25-30 g.

Beneficial properties of dark chocolate:

• Promotes the production of endorphin (the hormone of joy) and reduces the level of cortisol (a hormone produced under stress).
• Reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Theobromine in chocolate supports the tone of the heart muscle. Flavonoids increase the elasticity of blood vessels, improve blood circulation, prevent the formation of blood clots , lower blood pressure , and lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Improves cerebral blood flow, concentration and memory, activates brain function, increases performance.
• Antioxidants contained in chocolate strengthen the immune system (stimulates the production of local immunity factor - immunoglobulin A ) and slow down the aging process of cells.
• Effectively restores the body's energy potential after physical activity.

A fasting day on chocolate involves the inclusion in the diet of a bar of dark chocolate weighing 100 g, which is divided into 5 doses. There are several options for a fasting day on chocolate.

• The first, more strict option involves including only chocolate and liquid in the diet, which is recommended to drink green or herbal tea, still mineral water or purified water. The volume of fluid consumed should be at least 2.0 l/day. The liquid should be taken 30 minutes after eating chocolate. A number of authors advise drinking coffee (without sugar and milk), since coffee has a fat-burning effect. In principle, you can drink coffee, but not together with chocolate and not in the afternoon, since the risk of side effects is potentiated: allergic reactions (skin rash), irritability, insomnia , increased blood pressure. It is safer and no less effective to lose weight with green tea and chocolate, which also promotes weight loss, has a diuretic effect, is a good tonic and quenches thirst after eating sweets.
• The second option is more gentle. The diet is expanded by including low-fat kefir or yoghurt in the amount of 1.0 liters, which is washed down with 200 g of chocolate for each chocolate meal. At the same time, the amount of free liquid in the drinking ration should be at least 1.2-1.5 l/day.

It is recommended to practice a chocolate fasting day no more than once every 15 days. As already emphasized for the unloading procedure, it is important to choose the right chocolate. Let's consider the main criteria that you need to pay attention to when choosing chocolate. Don't buy chocolate if it:

• Made from genetically modified cocoa beans. It is important to choose chocolate that has a certificate of organic origin of cocoa beans.
• It contains a high percentage of cocoa powder. This ingredient is formed after squeezing the oil from cocoa beans and is cheaper and less healthy than cocoa liquor. The percentage of cocoa in high-quality dark chocolate ranges from 70 to 85%.
• If it contains other types of fat other than cocoa butter. Most often, in order to reduce the cost of chocolate, manufacturers introduce coconut, palm or soybean oil, which leads to the formation of trans fats that have a negative effect on the body.
• Contains high amounts of sugar (brown sugar), fructose, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners such as cyclamate , sucralose , saccharin or aspartame . It is recommended to choose chocolate not only with low sugar content, but to give preference to chocolate sweetened with natural sweeteners (stevia, monk fruit), which are several times sweeter than sugar and have minimal calorie content and zero glycemic index.
• They contain flavor enhancers, dyes and preservatives: ponceau 4R (E124), maltol (E636) and others, which can cause an allergic reaction and gastrointestinal diseases. Manufacturers usually add these ingredients to low-quality chocolate in order to make it more tasty and attractive. The presence of lecithin emulsifier (E322) in chocolate is permitted by GOST and its presence should not discourage you from purchasing. But if there is an alternative in the form of natural chocolate without lecithin, choose it.
• If there is a specific or white coating on the chocolate that forms when the product is stored improperly. A high-quality dark chocolate bar should be naturally shiny and glossy. When high-quality chocolate breaks, a loud crunch is heard, and the break of the bar should remain matte. High-quality chocolate should leave dark marks on your hands, since the melting point of cocoa butter is much lower than the human body temperature, so it is impossible to avoid contamination.

Also, it should be emphasized that since chocolate increases the level of serotonin and endorphins , it is possible to develop a craving for chocolate (addiction), especially during periods of exposure to stressful circumstances, so try to control the dose of chocolate consumption.

Benefits and harms

When choosing to lose weight with the help of this sweet, you need to imagine what benefits it can have, and where to expect a catch.

Benefit:

• prevents cardiovascular diseases;
• reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks by preventing blood clots;
• is a prevention of diabetes mellitus, as it controls the process of glucose absorption by the body;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• promotes vascular elasticity;
• facilitates the course of autoimmune diseases;
• stimulates intellectual activity, improves memory, activates thought processes;
• antioxidant substances prevent the formation of tumors;
• polyunsaturated acids remove harmful cholesterol.

Harm:

• destroys tooth enamel;
• causes food addiction;
• high calorie content;
• the minimum daily portion makes you experience bouts of hunger - it can be very difficult to withstand;
• monotony of diet;
• Side effects include nausea and dizziness;
• possible fainting;
• often provokes gastrointestinal disorders;
• promotes skin rashes.

Obvious harm from such fasting days can be felt only in extreme cases: when contraindications were ignored or the recommended dosage was increased.

Additional Information. Chocolate improves heart function, strengthens and cleanses blood vessels from cholesterol plaques.

Authorized Products

A fasting day on chocolate includes in the diet:

• Bitter chocolate, Babaevsky bitter chocolate, ritter sport bitter chocolate.
• Green tea, black coffee, still mineral water or filtered water.
• Non-fat/low-fat kefir, natural yogurt.

Table of permitted products

How this diet works

Advice

Unloading on chocolate refers to carbohydrate mono-diets, therefore it is based on consuming as few calories as possible per day. If you follow the rules of the weight loss method, you must completely avoid eating any food other than chocolate.

Sugar and salt should not be added to it. The latter causes fluid retention in the body, which can slow down metabolism.

You are allowed to consume 100 g of chocolate within 24 hours. Its calorie content varies depending on the variety and content of powdered sugar. On average, the energy value of the product is 450 kcal. To compensate for energy costs for the functioning of internal organs, a person spends up to 2200-2500 kcal per day. To maintain normal functional activity of the body's systems, the process of glycogen breakdown in the liver is activated. It serves as the basis for the formation of adipose tissue.

Subcutaneous and visceral fat is not destroyed during unloading. 1-2 kg of excess weight that can be lost with a mono-diet is excess fluid and waste materials that leave the body during urination and defecation. To facilitate the process of cleansing the body, in addition to chocolate, you need to drink up to 1.5-2 liters of water per day.

At the same time, unloading allows you to increase your metabolic rate. Thanks to improved metabolism, a person can independently get rid of excess fat during exercise.

Menu (Power Mode)

The chocolate diet menu, even in a gentle version, is extremely simple due to the inclusion of only a few products in the diet:

Contraindications for carrying out

There are the following contraindications to chocolate fasting:

1. diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, damage to the endocrine system;
2. renal and liver failure;
3. cholelithiasis;
4. hepatitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis;
5. gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
6. individual intolerance to chocolate;
7. cardiovascular pathologies;
8. severe infectious diseases;
9. lactation period.

Reviews of a fasting day on chocolate and results

Reviews from people who regularly practice fasting on dark chocolate are mostly positive.

• “... I regularly give myself a chocolate fasting day. I have long been looking for some non-standard product for a fasting day. And since I have a terrible sweet tooth, I chose a chocolate fasting day for myself. I use chocolate in combination with green tea, since I practically don’t eat coffee. The feeling of hunger is almost absent or very insignificant. I can easily tolerate it and recommend it to anyone with a sweet tooth. But look for quality dark chocolate.”
• “... To be honest, when a friend offered me a chocolate fasting day, I told her that she was crazy. But after searching for information on the Internet, I was convinced that chocolate can also be used to relieve the body. We decided to try it. It turned out that everything was fine, but I still decided for myself that in the future I would use more suitable products for unloading - sour milk, cottage cheese or vegetables.”

Is this unloading option safe?

When unloading during the day, this weight loss technique does not harm health and does not disrupt metabolism. To normalize hormonal levels, it is recommended to take additional vitamins along with chocolate. A threat to the body arises only when following a mono-diet for several days.

During the day, the body is exposed to eustress - positive stress, which helps it adapt to new conditions. A person feels light, increased appetite and improved mood. Hunger is felt only in the afternoon, but it does not bring any discomfort. It can be satisfied the next morning with a hearty breakfast.

Attention!

To maintain the results obtained on other days of the week, you must adhere to the rules of a healthy diet: a fractional diet, drinking plenty of fluids, regularly eating fruits and vegetables.

Preparatory stage

Chocolate unloading is a huge stress for a person. Most often, it is not clear how the body will react to such an experiment. For this reason, it is important to prepare yourself in advance. A few days before unloading, we fulfill the following conditions:

• We drink a lot of liquid - more than two liters.
• We remove heavy foods from our daily diet. We refuse fried, flour, salted, smoked, etc.
• We split up the food - there should be 5-6 meals a day.
• In addition to the main menu, we eat 20-30 grams of chocolate.
• We sleep well, we definitely get enough sleep.
• We do physical activity.
• The day before the RD, we lighten dinner as much as possible.

Which chocolate to choose

The chocolate assortment amazes the imagination and makes you think hard about choosing a product for RD. So which variety or option is most suitable in this process? You need to pay special attention to this nuance, since a mistake can lead not to weight loss, but, on the contrary, to a gain of extra pounds.

Nutritionists today recommend black/dark/bitter chocolate. This is the best option. It is best to take a “bitter” product with a cocoa bean content of more than 75%. The minimum acceptable level is 55% - such a chocolate bar will already be considered “dark” or “black”.

You will have to categorically refuse “dairy” and “white” varieties. Of course, they taste much more pleasant, but there is practically no benefit from them. The composition contains milk powder or cream with a fairly high percentage of fat content. These components are not dietary, so experts advise avoiding this product.

Delicious recipes

Fans of sweets come up with many tricks to diversify the menu.

We have found for you 2 recipes for a delicious dietary treat that you can prepare yourself.

Chocolate according to Dukan

The Dukan diet is deservedly considered one of the most severe. Therefore, you can be sure that the chocolate recipe here is truly low-calorie.

We will need:

• 1 tbsp. l. low-fat cocoa powder;
• ½ glass of milk;
• 3 tbsp. l. skimmed milk powder;
• 10 g gelatin;
• 1 tsp. sweetener (or stevia syrup).

Preparation:

1. Fry the milk powder until it becomes “crumbs”. Place the crackers in a blender, add cocoa and beat everything.
2. Pour gelatin into regular milk and leave until it swells. Next, set the glass for 30 seconds. in the microwave, grinding the lumps.
3. Pour sweetener or stevia into the mixture of milk powder and cocoa. Add gelatin there and beat everything well again.
4. If you don’t have a special mold, you can use foil to make something like a bath with edges 2-3 cm high. Pour the chocolate mixture into the mold.
5. Leave in the freezer until everything hardens.

This chocolate is softer than the traditional version, but lower in calories.

Dietary healthy chocolate

This product improves brain function, preserves the beauty of skin, hair and nails, and does not affect your figure. Calorie content - only 100 kcal.

Ingredients:

• 50 g cocoa powder;
• 200 ml milk;
• finely chopped orange zest;
• sweetener (to taste);
• a pinch of vanillin.

Cooking diagram:

1. Pour cocoa powder into a small ladle and add vanillin. Here you can add a sweetener to taste.
2. Next, pour in the milk: first 1/3 of the total volume, mixing the mixture well; then - the rest.
3. We put everything on medium heat and, without ceasing to stir, cook until it becomes a thick mass.
4. Add the orange zest (it is important to use the orange part and not the white part, otherwise the chocolate will be bitter). Mix everything thoroughly.
5. We move the delicacy into the mold and send it to the freezer to harden.

The product according to this recipe has 5 times less calories than regular chocolate!

Calorie Calculations

Since a person consumes only chocolate in strictly limited quantities from solid food for a whole week, he gets calories exclusively from this product. The maximum allowable daily intake of chocolate is 100 grams (one bar).

The calorie content of a bar of extra dark chocolate is 530 kcal, and that of milk chocolate is 554 kcal. White chocolate is not suitable for a diet because it contains almost no cocoa butter and has no nutritional value. Chocolate bars with nougat, caramel, waffles, and cookies are also not suitable for a mono-diet. They are too high in calories and loaded with sugar.

For a change, you can sometimes treat yourself to milk chocolate with nuts or raisins, but then the daily intake should be reduced to 80 grams. Nuts, dried fruits and other additives are high in calories. The energy value of a cup of unsweetened black coffee is simply negligible (about 5 kcal).