Eating chocolate can help you stay thin
April 6, 2012
There's no denying the fact that balancing the demands of a family and going to school can be a challenge. Often, moms pursuing a college education struggle to find time to do things for themselves, like exercising or eating right.
But a new study offers some good news for moms with a sweet tooth. Research has found that adults who eat chocolate on a regular basis are actually thinner that those who don't.
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, examined dietary and other information provided by approximately 1,000 adults, for whom weight and height had been measured.
They found that adults who ate chocolate more frequently were actually thinner and had a lower body mass index than those who ate chocolate less often. The size of the effect was modest but the effect was significant enough to be noted, according to researchers.
"Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight," said study author Dr. Beatrice Golomb.
This isn't the only study that has showed that eating chocolate can actually be good for you. RealAge.com reports that recent research has elevated chocolate to the status of a "super food" in many scientists' views.
The website references studies that have shown that the sweet treat can benefit overall health as well as make you smarter.
"Ample research suggests that the flavonols in dark chocolate increase cerebral blood flow, which in turn may trigger the creation of new blood vessels and brain cells," RealAge.com reports.
In addition, studies have shown that older adults performed better on cognitive tests when they ate some chocolate beforehand. It's worth a try for moms pursuing a college degree, too! Why not treat yourself to a small amount of chocolate before your next test?
LiveScience.com reports that studies have shown that eating chocolate has been shown to improve heart health, reduce the risk of stroke and help fight cancer.
"More and more research is showing that [eating chocolate] is really more beneficial than we ever imagined," Katherine Tallmadge, a registered dietician and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, told the website.
A 2009 study also found that chocolate can help fight stress. Researchers from the American Chemical Society found that eating about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate a day for two weeks reduced levels of stress hormones in the bodies of people feeling highly stressed. In addition, it was found to partially correct other stress-related biochemical imbalances.
Stressed-out moms pursuing a college degree can feel less guilty about indulging in some chocolate after reading about these studies. They can also reduce the financial stress associated with going to college by applying for various grants for parents, scholarships for mothers and single mother scholarships.
