Giving Up Chocolate

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Consult Your Doctor Before Beginning ANY Diet

7 Incredible Effects of Giving Up Chocolate
for a Month Says Research
By Lekhak February 18, 2022

Chocolate is delicious, but the benefits of avoiding it for a month are even more so.
You are not alone if you are a chocolate lover. According to studies, the average American consumes 9.5 pounds of chocolate per year, placing them tenth among the world’s top ten chocolate consumers. If you think that’s a lot, consider this: each individual in Switzerland consumes an average of 19.8 pounds of chocolate per year. Talk about a sweet tooth!
Although chocolate is delicious, some kinds may be harmful to our health—it turns out that not all chocolate is created equal. Dark chocolate, for example, maybe healthy when consumed in moderation, but other types, such as white and milk chocolate, can be high in fat and sugar.
“You want to choose a dark chocolate that is 70% or higher to get the best health benefits from cacao,” says Danielle McAvoy, MSPH, RD, and Registered Dietitian with Strong Home Gym. According to McAvoy, “the percentage of cacao also tells you the percentage of sugar.” For example, if a chocolate is labeled as “50%” that means it is made of 50% cacao and 50% sugar and dairy.
It may be not easy at first to give up chocolate, but it can be helpful to both your mind and body. But even healthy dark chocolate can be over-consumed. If you’re concerned that your chocolate consumption harms your health, cutting it out may be beneficial. Here are some of the benefits of giving up chocolate for 30 days, from getting a better night’s sleep to having fewer mood swings.

1. You’ll experience fewer mood swings

When we cut out chocolate, we are also cutting out sugar, which can have a balancing effect on our moods.
“When you eliminate sugar from your diet, you’re eliminating one of the main causes of mood swings and irritability,” says Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, ASYSTEM’s Registered Nutritionist and Director of Formulations. Sugar, according to Cowin, is a toxin that reduces energy while also messing with blood sugar levels. “Mood swings, cravings, and other unhealthy behaviours can result,” he explains.

2. You may lose weight

Are you having problems reaching your weight-loss targets? Even if it’s only for a month, eliminating chocolate from your diet will help you cut calories and sugar, which can lead to weight loss.
“It might be difficult to check how much sugar you’re eating each day because added sugars are often hidden in foods and drinks, especially chocolate,” Cowin adds. “Cutting back on added sugars can help you lose weight and improve your overall health.”

3.You may get less heartburn

According to studies, about one-third of Americans suffer from acid reflux every week. Tomato sauce, alcohol, and fried foods may come to mind when we think of heartburn or acid reflux, but did you know that chocolate is also a culprit? “Chocolate is an acidic meal that can trigger or worsen heartburn or acid reflux symptoms,” McAvoy explains. “The sweeter the chocolate, the more triggering it might be.”

4. You may sleep better

If you eat chocolate later in the day, you can find it difficult to fall asleep at night. This is because chocolate contains caffeine, which might keep you up. According to McAvoy, caffeine is OK in moderation, but if you drink coffee first thing in the morning, eating chocolate in the afternoon or evening may disrupt your sleep. “Because caffeine can contribute to anxiety, lowering your caffeine consumption can help you feel more relaxed,” McAvoy adds.

5. You may experience increased emotional awareness

By avoiding chocolate for a month, you may develop increased emotional awareness, which can help improve mindful eating. Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, M.D., dual-board certified obesity & metabolic health physician, best-selling author, personalized lifestyle coach, and CEO of EmbraceYOU Weight & Wellness says, “I know firsthand that eating chocolate is an easy method to calm uncomfortable emotions.” “I was forced to “feel my feelings” when I gave up chocolate for a month,” she continues, “and this emotional awareness helped improve my mindful eating.”
Dr Bollie also stated that when she wasn’t using food to “soothe” her feelings, she felt “a better connection and clarity.” She explains, “This is a frequent pattern I see with other emotional eaters I deal with on their weight and wellness journey.”

6. You’ll reduce your risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

According to a 2018 study, high-sugar diets put you at a higher risk of getting non-fatty liver disease. The sugar content of a single Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar is 24 grams. If you eat one of these a couple of times a week, you’ll consume about 200 grams of added sugar every month, just from chocolate. By reducing your chocolate intake, you can help reduce the risk of developing this illness while also reducing your risk of diabetes and obesity.

7. You’ll be at a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases

According to a 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, there is a direct link between increased added sugar intake and an increased risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) mortality. The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease may be reduced if you replace your chocolate habit with healthy options such as fruits and nuts.