Dieting for weight loss happens to be a cumbersome process as it involves giving up some of our favorite foods, but it can be turned into a sweet experience as per the saying: "it is better to light one candle than to curse darkness". So let us explore the possibilities to brighten our dieting experience in order to avoid crash diets to lose weight fast .

Yes! It is too good to be true that Chocolates can be a part of your weight loss diet plan. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans from the tree, botanically called Theobroma cacao, which means "food of Gods". Cocoa has received significant attention due to the presence of its polyphenols contents and is also considered as the most antioxidant rich food on earth. Cocoa in chocolates can act as an appetite suppressant and is also proved to lower blood cholesterol. For effective weight loss chocolate is recommended to be substituted with snacks and hence considered as a part of food lovers’ fat loss plan.

The US Dept. of Commerce has estimated the average consumption of chocolate for an American to be about 4.9 kilograms per year while the highest per capita is recorded at Switzerland at 11.6 kilograms per year.

Chocolates contain flavonol belonging to the flavonoid group which decreases the bad (cholesterol) LDL while increasing the HDL (good cholesterol) levels of the blood. However, the mechanisms responsible for these effects of cocoa on cholesterol metabolism are yet to be fully elucidated as more study is required.

Certain foods increase the metabolism of the body; such foods are termed as super foods. Examples of such super foods are apple, avocadoes, berries, citrus fruits, cabbage and broccoli. Chocolates can be added to this list as it can result in a faster metabolism

by increasing the glucose utilization of our body.

Chocolate is the highest source for minerals such as magnesium, iron and chromium (which plays an important role in the balance of blood sugar).

Chocolate contain 400 distinct flavor compounds. The psychoactive substances present in chocolate increases the concentration of endorphins and serotonin in the blood, which causes a feeling of well being. Cocoa butter melts at 97 F which is the reason for the chocolate to melt in one’s mouth, and it is this nature that adds to make chocolates more desirable. So go ahead and become an addict of your favorite weight loss food. The key to your success in weight loss with dark chocolates is by moderation of the quality and quantity of the chocolates consumed.

Phenyl-ethylamine (PEA) is a biogenic amines present in chocolate. PEA is also known as "love drug" as it produces physiological and psychological effects as those caused when a person is in love.

A study in Denmark involved twelve women who were given 30 grams of dark chocolate. It was reported that these women who ate chocolate had a lower appetite and felt fuller for a long time when compared with their counter parts. It is astonishing to find that apart from the women who ate chocolate even those women who smelled dark chocolates also had a lower appetite as the production of the hormone called ghrelin is lowered. Ghrelin hormone causes a person to eat.

Pure cocoa is bitter in taste but to convert it into tasty chocolates, it has to be processed, the more processing is done, the more the nutritive value is stripped off, while adding ingredients such as sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils dairy creams and butter and thereby reducing the percentage of cocoa. The additives may also cause weight gain. So it is always necessary to choose your chocolate for weight loss, by going for dark varieties with a minimum of 70 percentage of cocoa.

Another study published by the Journal of Acta Pharmacologia et Toxicologica in January 1984 states that theobromine contained in cocoa is effective at reducing food intake and inducing fat loss.

Apart from the fact that chocolate enhances weight loss by suppressing appetite and lowering cholesterol, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also reports, several studies that claim, chocolate to alleviate weight loss related issues such as lowering blood pressure, preventing stroke and heart attacks. Chocolates contain antioxidants that prevent the fat molecules from clogging in the arteries. These antioxidants in the form of flavonols coax the body to produce more nitric oxide which relaxes the blood vessels. Chocolate also improve the body’s response to insulin and hence useful in type 2 diabetes.

An enzyme known as ACE (Antiotensin-Converting Enzyme) has been the cause for undesired increase in blood pressure. The scientists at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sweden at Linkoping conducted a study and found that cocoa inhibited ACE by 21 % by three hours of consumption.

According to the Archives of Internal Medicine (2007 Vol.167. PP.626-634) the magnitude of reducing blood pressure effect of cocoa is clinically trustworthy that can be almost compared by beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors.

Chocolate contain fats in the form of cocoa butter. These fats are in three different forms; oleic acids, stearic acid and palmitic acid. These fats are very good natural moisturizer to keep your skin smooth and supple. Oleic acid is also found in olive oil and is considered as a heart healthy fat. Stearic acid is reported not to cause any bad effects. Palmitic acid should not be taken in large quantity. Palmitic acids only make up a small portion of the fats in cocoa. So it is always recommended not to consume more than one oz. of good quality chocolates per day. The fact chocolates can certainly brighten up your weight loss diet plan if moderation is taken into consideration.

What are the two products whose sales don’t get reduced even in times of recession? Yes you have guessed it correctly, and the other one is lipstick.