Monday, November 10, 2008

Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight?

By Brian McCoy

When you think of losing weight, the word chocolate does not generally come to mind. However, thanks to some new developments it could in fact be possible.

We have recently been hearing about the benefits of dark chocolate and what positive effects it can have on your body. While dark chocolate is healthy, the majority of the chocolate sold in stores today is very unhealthy. The reason for this is that these chocolates are chocked full of sugars, fats, and preservatives. None of which have any positive benefits to your overall health and wellness.

Traditional chocolate also losses much of its nutritional benefits as it is heated during manufacturing. This causes an 80% loss in antioxidant levels.

Thankfully, there is another option apart from the unhealthy, heat processed dark chocolates. A company named Xocai is a part of the MXI Corporation based in Reno, NV. Xocai has developed a line of products that is in its most natural, purest form of cacao. This is the result of the chocolate retaining its nutritional benefits during manufacturing. The cacao is cold pressed rather than heated. Therefore, the dark chocolate preserves its healthful benefits.

The 6 products that Xocai has available are: X Power Squares, X Powerhouse Cookie, Activ, Nuggets, Protein Bar, and Omega Bars. All of them are formulated with unprocessed cacao powder, with acai berry and blueberry added to enhance the taste. Antioxidants, flavonoids, high ORAC values, high fiber, and low sugars are just some of the many healthy benefits that the dark chocolate products contain. The are also approved for diabetics, vegetarians, and vegans.

So just how does any of this have an effect on weight loss? Several studies, including one recent study out of Japan, concluded that consumption of cocoa may fight weight gain. While there are several determining factors in this, a few of them are gene regulation and the potential mood elevating chemicals that cocoa contains. These positive chemicals have the added benefits of possibly helping one to feel more energetic, leading to increased exercise, and ultimately leading to weight loss.

Not only might there be a biochemical response, but you are eating a more organic, healthy product. Just think, if you grab a piece of healthy dark chocolate versus a Snickers bar, what do you think that the benefits will be? The healthy dark chocolate is low in sugar, high in fiber, antioxidants, ORAC value, flavonoids, and low in fat and calories. A vast contrast from the Snickers bar.

An added benefit is that you don't have to give up taste either. The formulations that Xocai has put together for their line of healthy dark chocolate products has mass taste appeal. People are sharing their positive testimonials as to the fantastic results that they are seeing with the products. Because of this, I feel that it is beneficial for you and your family that you look into how the Xocai healthy chocolate can be good for you. - 16463

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