Fitness Benefits

Dark chocolate apparently has one fortunate side-effect—it can help you lose weight. According to a 2010 study, dark chocolate may help suppress appetite, which leads to consuming fewer calories and ultimately losing weight. According to Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, “some studies have also shown dark chocolate to be beneficial for weight loss, as it may reduce our hunger hormone, known as ghrelin, and boost our satiety,” as she told Popsugar.

Moderation

The important thing to keep in mind is that dark chocolate still has a lot of calories, so it’s all about portion control. A good serving size is around one ounce or 28 grams, which provides you 155 calories. Treating yourself to a portion of dark chocolate when you’re craving something sweet won’t mess up your weight loss plans and can ultimately help you achieve the goal. Over time, you’ll find yourself with less cravings and it will be easier to control food intake in general.

The post Dark Chocolate is a Solid Choice if You’re Trying to Lose Weight appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

The cross-sectional study found that, regardless of other factors like age, height, weight, education, and many more, participants who consumed dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% lower odds of reporting depressive symptoms that those who didn’t eat any chocolate. Even those who ate any type of chocolate, not necessarily dark, had fewer depressive symptoms.

So, next time you want to grab some chocolate, know that you’re doing your mental health a favor and eat it without feeling guilty! There are ways to work it off and you’ll probably be more active if you’re not feeling depressive anyway.

The post Here’s a Great Reason to Eat That Piece of Dark Chocolate You’ve Been Craving appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of at least 60 percent bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
• 2 cups thin pretzel sticks, broken into pieces
• 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped

Instructions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave on high for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 20 to 30 seconds.
3. Stir in the pretzels.
4. Pour the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it evenly with a spatula so it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
5. Put the peanuts onto the mixture.
6. Refrigerate the baking sheet for at least 30 minutes.
7. Break the bark into pieces. You can store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days.

The post This 3-Ingredient Sweet and Salty Chocolate Bark Will Solve Your Sweet Cravings appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

The cross-sectional study found that, regardless of other factors like age, height, weight, education, and many more, participants who consumed dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% lower odds of reporting depressive symptoms that those who didn’t eat any chocolate. Even those who ate any type of chocolate, not necessarily dark, had fewer depressive symptoms.

So, next time you want to grab some chocolate, know that you’re doing your mental health a favor and eat it without feeling guilty! There are ways to work it off and you’ll probably be more active if you’re not feeling depressive anyway.

The post Here’s a Great Reason to Eat That Piece of Dark Chocolate You’ve Been Craving appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Don’t Pay Too Much Attention to Calories

Yes, it’s important to be mindful of calories when choosing a sweet, but calories don’t give us the full story. Just because something is lower in calories, it doesn’t mean it’s the healthier option. Sugary favorites like Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, and Sweedish Fish may be lower in calories than chocolate options like Almond Joys, Snickers, and Kit Kats, but it doesn’t make them the healthier option.

What Type of Chocolate?

If you can, always aim for dark chocolate options when they are available. Dark chocolate has less sugar added than other chocolate and it’s best to aim for chocolates that have at least 70 percent cacao.

In addition, chocolates that contain nuts usually have less sugar added and they will keep you feeling satisfied for longer.

Pay Attention to Serving Size

Halloween candy comes in fun-size and bite-size options, which is great for portion control. Just be mindful of how many pieces you are eating and remember it’s okay to enjoy yourself!

The post Keep These Tips in Mind When Choosing Halloween Candy appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

What’s Cococeps? It’s an organic cocoa blend mixed with cordyceps and reishi mushrooms. The taste is a little on the bitter side which is similar to the taste of coffee. However, it doesn’t contain any coffee – it contains 14mg of natural caffeine which is much less than a regular-sized mug of coffee. So it gives you a natural kick of energy without the jitters at the end. If you’re looking to make the switch then read on to see why it’s worth a shot.

Cordyceps for Energy

Cordyceps has been used for hundreds of years in Chinese medicine. It’s a type of mushroom that’s typically harvested in Tibet and used for medicinal properties. In Cococeps, it serves as an adaptogen that helps your body recover from everyday stress. If you’re looking to be relaxed yet alert during the day, Cordyceps will help you feel focused enough to get your work done.

Reishi for Relaxation

To balance out the healing properties of Cordyceps, reishi promotes calm and relaxation. It has a distinct taste of slight bitterness – but with a dash of honey or a natural sweetener in your drink, it will be fine. You can even sprinkle it in a yummy dessert to make it more delicious. Did we mention it has natural cocoa? The chocolate makes the drink even more endearing!

The post Cococeps: The Coffee Alternative That Tastes Just Like Chocolate! appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Fitness Benefits

Dark chocolate apparently has one fortunate side-effect—it can help you lose weight. According to a 2010 study, dark chocolate may help suppress appetite, which leads to consuming fewer calories and ultimately losing weight. According to Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, “some studies have also shown dark chocolate to be beneficial for weight loss, as it may reduce our hunger hormone, known as ghrelin, and boost our satiety,” as she told Popsugar.

Moderation

The important thing to keep in mind is that dark chocolate still has a lot of calories, so it’s all about portion control. A good serving size is around one ounce or 28 grams, which provides you 155 calories. Treating yourself to a portion of dark chocolate when you’re craving something sweet won’t mess up your weight loss plans and can ultimately help you achieve the goal. Over time, you’ll find yourself with less cravings and it will be easier to control food intake in general.

The post Dark Chocolate is a Solid Choice if You’re Trying to Lose Weight appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

The cross-sectional study found that, regardless of other factors like age, height, weight, education, and many more, participants who consumed dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% lower odds of reporting depressive symptoms that those who didn’t eat any chocolate. Even those who ate any type of chocolate, not necessarily dark, had fewer depressive symptoms.

So, next time you want to grab some chocolate, know that you’re doing your mental health a favor and eat it without feeling guilty! There are ways to work it off and you’ll probably be more active if you’re not feeling depressive anyway.

The post Here’s a Great Reason to Eat That Piece of Dark Chocolate You’ve Been Craving appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of at least 60 percent bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
• 2 cups thin pretzel sticks, broken into pieces
• 1/4 cup unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped

Instructions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave on high for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 20 to 30 seconds.
3. Stir in the pretzels.
4. Pour the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet and spread it evenly with a spatula so it’s about 1/4 inch thick.
5. Put the peanuts onto the mixture.
6. Refrigerate the baking sheet for at least 30 minutes.
7. Break the bark into pieces. You can store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days.

The post This 3-Ingredient Sweet and Salty Chocolate Bark Will Solve Your Sweet Cravings appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

The cross-sectional study found that, regardless of other factors like age, height, weight, education, and many more, participants who consumed dark chocolate in two 24-hour periods had 70% lower odds of reporting depressive symptoms that those who didn’t eat any chocolate. Even those who ate any type of chocolate, not necessarily dark, had fewer depressive symptoms.

So, next time you want to grab some chocolate, know that you’re doing your mental health a favor and eat it without feeling guilty! There are ways to work it off and you’ll probably be more active if you’re not feeling depressive anyway.

The post Here’s a Great Reason to Eat That Piece of Dark Chocolate You’ve Been Craving appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

Don’t Pay Too Much Attention to Calories

Yes, it’s important to be mindful of calories when choosing a sweet, but calories don’t give us the full story. Just because something is lower in calories, it doesn’t mean it’s the healthier option. Sugary favorites like Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, and Sweedish Fish may be lower in calories than chocolate options like Almond Joys, Snickers, and Kit Kats, but it doesn’t make them the healthier option.

What Type of Chocolate?

If you can, always aim for dark chocolate options when they are available. Dark chocolate has less sugar added than other chocolate and it’s best to aim for chocolates that have at least 70 percent cacao.

In addition, chocolates that contain nuts usually have less sugar added and they will keep you feeling satisfied for longer.

Pay Attention to Serving Size

Halloween candy comes in fun-size and bite-size options, which is great for portion control. Just be mindful of how many pieces you are eating and remember it’s okay to enjoy yourself!

The post Keep These Tips in Mind When Choosing Halloween Candy appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.

What’s Cococeps? It’s an organic cocoa blend mixed with cordyceps and reishi mushrooms. The taste is a little on the bitter side which is similar to the taste of coffee. However, it doesn’t contain any coffee – it contains 14mg of natural caffeine which is much less than a regular-sized mug of coffee. So it gives you a natural kick of energy without the jitters at the end. If you’re looking to make the switch then read on to see why it’s worth a shot.

Cordyceps for Energy

Cordyceps has been used for hundreds of years in Chinese medicine. It’s a type of mushroom that’s typically harvested in Tibet and used for medicinal properties. In Cococeps, it serves as an adaptogen that helps your body recover from everyday stress. If you’re looking to be relaxed yet alert during the day, Cordyceps will help you feel focused enough to get your work done.

Reishi for Relaxation

To balance out the healing properties of Cordyceps, reishi promotes calm and relaxation. It has a distinct taste of slight bitterness – but with a dash of honey or a natural sweetener in your drink, it will be fine. You can even sprinkle it in a yummy dessert to make it more delicious. Did we mention it has natural cocoa? The chocolate makes the drink even more endearing!

The post Cococeps: The Coffee Alternative That Tastes Just Like Chocolate! appeared first on yourdailysportfix.com.