Food cravings are common. The tendency to crave foods high in sugar and fat is well-established in nutritional research. As a food high in both sugar and fat, chocolate is one of the most commonly craved foods in America. Chocolates are made by combining cocoa powder and cocoa butter with sweeteners and other ingredients. Cocoa butter accounts for most of the fat in chocolate. Different types of chocolate have varying concentrations of cocoa powder often called the cacao percentage.
Dark chocolate has the highest concentration of cocoa powder and white chocolate the lowest. Chocolate also contains a variety of other ingredients like sugars, milk powders, and nuts. Cocoa is naturally bitter. To improve the taste of chocolate, processors add plenty of sugar.
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate that your body absorbs quickly. Other chocolate bars that contain caramel, nougat, and marshmallow may have even more sugar. For example, a Snickers bar has 27 grams of sugar. Chocolate bars containing more than 75 percent cacao tend to have less sugar under 10 grams per bar. Research suggests that sugars and other refined carbohydrates are a key component of processed foods that are considered addictive.
According to the American Heart Association , women should limit themselves to 25 grams of sugar per day about six teaspoons and men should stay below 36 grams nine teaspoons. You may be able to reduce your sugar intake by eating chocolate with a high cacao percentage.
When your body is hungry, it craves fast carbohydrates like refined sugars. Unfortunately, most processed chocolate is high on the glycemic index, which means that it gives you a quick, but temporary sugar rush. You can beat your chocolate craving by filling up on something else. Look for foods that are low in sugar and high in protein or whole grains. These foods will keep you full longer and prevent a sugar crash. As cacao is processed, its caffeine content decreases. Most processed chocolate candy bars have under 10 mg of caffeine.
To put that in perspective: The average cup of coffee has about 85 to mg of caffeine. Some dark chocolates , however, can contain more caffeine than a can of cola which has around 30 mg. The higher the cacao content, the higher the caffeine content. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, making you feel more awake and alert.
It also affects the levels of certain neurotransmitters in your brain, including dopamine. This may contribute to its addictive nature. So, for that nanosecond we forget everything we had to do before the bite of chocolate and experience a moment of happiness, but when we swallow, it disappears and in turn we crave the happy feeling so we'll reach for more chocolate. We end up suppressing our emotions instead of confronting them.
Before reaching for that Milky Way, take a moment to pause and ask yourself, why am I craving this right now? Every day after dinner, you treat yourself to a scoop of chocolate ice cream or two. Hey, no judgement. Instead of ice cream, try ending your meal with something else instead like a cup of peppermint tea or a piece of fruit. Research shows that close to 50 percent of women in the U.
Instead, the most likely explanation seems to be that because chocolate is so often tied to menstruation in American culture, women have come to expect and then have that particular craving. Weird, right? Well, sort of. Allow us to explain: Cocoa is rich in antioxidants substances that fight harmful free radicals in your body and studies have linked it to lowering cholesterol and improving memory. So far, so good. In order to reap the benefits of chocolate, experts say you should opt for dark varieties—at least 70 percent.
And remember, moderation is key. So, a couple of squares is fine but the entire bar, not so much. We hear you— boooring. Make things a little more interesting by turning up the heat—grilling fruits like peaches or pineapple will give you a delicious caramelized flavor.
Sure, the chocolate chips are the best part but the nuts, seeds and cereal are pretty tasty, too. Skip the sugar-loaded variety and make your own fro-yo dessert instead. This Will Be the Amazon Coat of Does Hand Sanitizer Work? We Ask Hamptons Chicago San Francisco. Connect With Us. Are you sure you want to remove this item from your Recipe Box? Deliciously rich, bold chocolate taste with no added sugar.
Simply swap for regular, unsweetened cocoa powder in smoothies, shakes, hot chocolate, brownies, and more! The key is being honest with yourself: is your relationship with chocolate making you feel guilty afterwards? You might have a magnesium deficiency, or just be genuinely hungry. Maybe you need a bit more sleep or some coffee. Your email address will not be published.
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