Great news for those of us with a sweet tooth – science says eating chocolate for breakfast can help us lose weight.
So put down the Coco Pops and grab the real deal to kick start your morning, because breakfast – already the best meal of the day – just got a lot more interesting.
According to various studies, we should eat chocolate first thing in the morning at the time when the body’s metabolism is working hardest.
Researchers from Tel Aviv University found that eating chocolate – combined with protein and carbohydrates – for breakfast guards against sugar cravings throughout the day, meaning you’re less likely to snack on the sweet stuff come mid-afternoon.
The 32-week study was conducted on 193 non-diabetic, clinically obese participants who were split into two groups. One group was given a 300 calorie breakfast every morning whereas the others ate a 600 calorie breakfast including chocolate pudding.
Professor Daniela Jkubowicz, lead researcher in the study, noted long term benefits of a large, sugary breakfast: The second group of dieters lost on average 37 pounds more than the former, reporting fewer sugar cravings.
Thanks to this study, starving yourself of the sweeter things in life when you’re trying to lose weight might be a thing of the past.
Liz Moskow, food trend expert and culinary director at Sterling-Rice Group, has predicted a rise in chocolate-based breakfast food trends, according to Elite Daily.
Happily, there’s a cherry on this chocolate covered cake.
Chocolate has also been found to boost your brain power.
The Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS) researched the health benefits of dark chocolate and found the tasty treat can improve cognitive function and enhance reasoning, memory and focus.
So if you’re not into cake, there are plenty of other ways to get cacao into your diet.
Of course, if you’re not fussed about dieting, you can incorporate chocolate into your meal plans, while still getting the obligatory protein.
Needless to say, you probably shouldn’t take these studies as an excuse to gorge on a full chocolate cake every morning.
As with everything in life, moderation is key.
Stick to small portions of chocolate – which is still, unfortunately, stuffed full of fats and sugars – so as not to negate the possible health benefits of adding cacao to your diet.
A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.