Slimming cocoa drink – how to make it right

In the cold season, you really want to treat yourself to a chocolate bar. But thoughts about extra pounds haunt me. Fortunately, the popular treat has a decent alternative – a cocoa drink. Not only will it drive away the seasonal blues, but it will also help you lose weight. However, it is important to prepare a dietary product, taken at the right time and in moderation.

Why cocoa helps you lose weight

Cocoa in the form of a drink and even a bar actually helps to reduce weight. In 2015, scientists from the University of Madrid conducted an experiment involving 1,000 volunteers. The people were divided into 3 groups. Participants in the first went on a diet, the second continued to eat as usual, and the third included a 30-gram portion of chocolate in a balanced diet. At the end of the experiment, people who consumed cocoa lost the most weight: an average of 3.8 kg.

And even earlier, in 2012, scientists from the University of California found that chocolate lovers have a lower body mass index than others. What is the secret of cocoa for weight loss? In a rich chemical composition.

Theobromine and caffeine

These substances are classified as purine alkaloids. They help the body absorb proteins, speed up the breakdown of fats and lift your mood.

Fatty acid

200 ml of a drink made from cocoa powder contains about 4–5 gr. oils. But the latter consists mainly of healthy fats that normalize metabolism.

Expert opinion: “The higher the percentage of cocoa butter, the better the product. The benefit of this ingredient lies in the content of fatty acids necessary to maintain biochemical processes in the body ”nutritionist Alexei Dobrovolsky.

Vitamins

Cocoa drink is beneficial for the figure as it is rich in B vitamins, especially B2, B3, B5 and B6. These substances are involved in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. They help the body convert calories from food into energy, rather than store them in fat stores.

Macro and microelements

100 g chocolate powder contains 60% of the daily value of potassium and 106% of magnesium. The first element prevents excess fluid from accumulating in the body, and the second prevents overeating on nerves.

Expert opinion: “Hot cocoa drinks stimulate the release of dopamine. Therefore, for a while, a person’s mood rises. If you are in a state of depression, then, in order not to fall for a chocolate or a cake, allow yourself to drink a mug of cocoa “nutritionist Alexei Kovalkov.

How to make a drink

A simple recipe can be used to make a diet cocoa drink. Boil 250 ml of water in a Turk and add 3 teaspoons of the powder. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Make sure that no lumps form in the liquid.

Aromatic spices will help improve the taste and fat-burning properties of the product:

• cinnamon;
• Carnation;
• cardamom;
• chilli;
• ginger.

You can also prepare a cocoa drink in milk. But then its calorie content will increase by 20-30%. Sugar and sweeteners, including honey, must not be added to the finished product.

Expert opinion: “The beneficial properties of cocoa are most clearly revealed in combination with citrus fruits, ginger and hot pepper”, gastroenterologist Svetlana Berezhnaya.

Cocoa rules for weight loss

3 tea. tablespoons of chocolate powder is about 90 kcal. Nutritionists recommend that people who lose weight consume 1-2 glasses of a diet drink per day. The first portion is best drunk 30 minutes after breakfast to invigorate, and the second in the afternoon.

Important! Drinking in the evening can cause insomnia, as the drink contains caffeine.…

It is advisable to use cocoa immediately after preparation of the drink, that is, fresh. Then all useful substances will be preserved in it.

Who shouldn’t drink cocoa

Cocoa drink is capable of causing not only benefits to the body, but also harm. The powder contains many purines, which increase the concentration of uric acid in the body. The latter worsens the condition of persons with inflammatory diseases of the joints and genitourinary system.

In large quantities (3-4 glasses a day), a chocolate drink increases the risk of the following problems:

• constipation;
• heartburn, gastritis;
• increase in blood pressure.

Attention! The product is contraindicated in pregnant women and children under 2 years of age. Hypertensive patients should be treated with caution.

So, what is the use of cocoa drink for weight loss? It helps the body convert calories into energy, not fat. A person loses the desire to eat something tasty and high-calorie. When combined with a balanced diet, the product produces impressive and consistent results.

The main thing is not to overuse the drink!

Bibliography:

1. Yu. Konstantinov “Coffee, cocoa, chocolate. Delicious medicines. “
2. F.I. Zapparov, D.F. Zapparova “Oh, cocoa! Beauty, health, longevity ”.