Dieter’s Sweet-Tooth Guide: 4 Healthy Chocolate Tips

Welcome to Diet and Fitness podcast, a free audio podcast sponsored by Diet.com. This is your fit, fun, and fabulous host, Lady Diet, ready to give you the skinny on the latest diet fitness health tips and news.

I LOVE chocolate – it’s my guilty pleasure, my mood booster, my little afternoon treat. It’s also an essential part of my healthy diet! If you hadn’t heard, chocolate, though satisfying for any sweet-tooth, actually has many healthy benefits! How is it possible for something so delicious to be good for you, too? Chocolate’s antioxidant properties give it the power to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol! In today’s podcast I venture into some of the easy ways and reasons why chocolate can be a welcome part of any diet plan.

1)Most importantly, the chocolate that actually packs the most healthy benefits is dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate, a bit more bitter in taste, is generally slightly lower in calories and fat than milk chocolate, but that’s not all. It’s full of vitamins and minerals like potassium, iron, and vitamins A, D, and E. Wondering if there’s a difference between chocolate brands? In general, higher-grade chocolate is made with natural ingredients and contains higher amounts of cocoa than commercial brands, which use sugar and saturated fat as main ingredients. So go ahead, I say it’s OK to be a chocolate snob!

2)So, since chocolate is so great for you, try using it as a substitution for those other sweets you might have treated yourself to. Always denying yourself of things you crave isn’t part of building a healthy lifestyle. Instead, if you must have a treat, try a little square of dark chocolate instead of a candy bar. Pair it with some fresh fruit like raspberries or strawberries. Or try a square with a handful of almonds for a protein-packed snack sure to satisfy.

3)If you’re feeling a little blue, dark chocolate is the perfect pick-me-up. It boosts serotonin in your brain which has mood improving effects. In addition, it contains caffeine and serves as a stimulant, so you’ll feel a burst of alertness and energy when you eat it. Some studies are showing that chocolate even triggers the release of endorphins that increase your sense of happiness.

4)Take time to savor each bite of dark chocolate, rather than throwing the whole thing in your mouth. Taking your time, paying attention to the flavor, texture, and smell is key to keeping chocolate in your diet – if you’re going quickly, you’re more likely to eat more before realizing when you’re satisfied.

So to all you chocoholics out there – don’t be ashamed! Control your chocolate cravings with these four tips in mind. Buy smaller bars of chocolate or individual squares rather than those King-sized bars, because it’s likely you’ll eat whatever you are served or have on hand. Remember that it’s essential to practice moderation with dark chocolate, like any other food! Only then can it be part of a successful healthy diet.

If you have any comments or suggestions about today’s podcast, or any fun health diet or fitness tip, please feel free to email me at LadyDietPodcast at dietdotcom.

This is Lady Diet signing off…