Is chocolate-fuelled fat loss possible?

It’s the million-dollar question. Is chocolate-fuelled fat loss possible? As for too long chocolate has been blacklisted. Considered a nutritional sin, it’s kept under lock and key in the cupboard and even avoided by many. But studies show if you know how to choose the right chocolate it becomes entirely possible for your health and happiness to live in harmony with this cocoa-based favourite.

That’s music to many people’s ears. But how exactly does this work? Well, if you trace the origins of chocolate back to its roots, what you’ll find is a plant-based food that originates from the seed of a fruit. Called the cocoa bean, studies show raw cocoa is naturally high in flavanols — natural plant nutrients — and this is where the magic happens.

This is because the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of L’Aquila in Italy put dark chocolate — in its natural and pure form — under the microscope and found it: ‘improves insulin sensitivity in healthy persons.’ What this means is it improves a person’s ability to absorb carbohydrates, making them less prone to storing fat. It does this by positively influencing our body’s hormone called insulin, which —aside from thousands of other functions within the body — determines whether a food is absorbed or stored as fat. All of a sudden chocolate spread on brown, granary bread seems like a great idea. A great-tasting, nutrient-packed idea that fits into most diets.

So, at what point did chocolate become a bad idea? Basically it was when we changed Mother Nature’s recipe. This is because if you look at the modern manufacturing process of chocolate you’ll see it comes layered with caramel and loaded with sugar, all while we reduce the cocoa supply and therefore its nutritional benefits.

The solution? Look for the dark chocolate that’s high in cocoa and boasts a 70 per cent to 85 per cent cocoa content. Whether it comes in a bar, in a spread or you’re cooking with it, generally speaking the higher the cocoa percentage the better that particular chocolate source will be for you.

But now for the really good news… It also comes in the form of this Dark Chocolate Protein Brownies recipe. A healthy, protein-packed dessert you can enjoy completely guilt-free after the gym.

Ingredients

60g of dark chocolate (70% – 85% cocoa content)

5 dates

75g cocoa powder

420g of canned pumpkin puree

30g THE PROTEIN WORKS™ whey protein

1 whole egg

100ml almond milk

30g (handful) walnuts

2tbsp (heaped) of almond butter and peanut butter

Method

Mix your ingredients together (but exclude the chocolate and walnuts). Blend until there are no lumps and then add the walnuts.

Mix and place on a baking tray and bake at around 170°C for 40 minutes.

It’s important to note this may vary depending on your oven. Remove from oven. Then quickly place the dark chocolate on top of your brownies.

It will melt upon impact, so you can spread it evenly across the top.

Allow to cool, then eat and enjoy.