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When most of us think of chocolate we know that while it may be fun to eat, that it can also make us fatter than we are today. Chocolate is not considered a food that you should eat while you're dieting as it's usually rich in sugar and calories.

Surprisingly, though, dark chocolate is a different story. Most people don't know about the many health benefits of dark chocolate and they should because it can prove to be a blessed addition to any weight loss process. Yes, I said weight loss.

Not every product which has "Dark Chocolate" printed on the cover really deserves that name. As most chocolates are filled with added sugar, you want to make sure that what you're eating will have a high dose of cocoa which is what makes dark chocolate healthy. A good rule of thumb would be to eat anything with 70% cocoa content or more. I usually go for 85% but most people find that to be too bitter. 70% should be enough and will still contain a lot of sweetness.

We all know how hard it is to stick to a diet plan and be deprived of anything sweet. This is where darker chocolate can actually help you lose weight. Being as healthy as it is, which we will get into in a moment, and rather low in sugar, it can help you satisfy your sweet tooth without filling you with empty calories and sugar. This can help you stick to your diet plan for longer and lose more weight in the long run.

But this isn't the end of the benefits of dark chocolate. It gets much better than this. You see, dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, powerful antioxidants which help your body destroy free radicals.

Free radicals are nasty little molecules which circle around in your body and attack your cells from within. They're destructive, potentially hazardous, and accelerate the aging process. Antioxidants are your best allies in the fight against these free radicals and dark chocolate if full of them.

The problem with milk chocolate is that it seems that milk interrupts how the body digests antioxidants, so you're not only getting tons of sugar but not enjoying the benefits either.

In addition, dark chocolate has been shown to act as an effective stress reducer. It basically helps you alleviate tension and induces a feeling of well-being. Naturally, this is something which can also lead to a sort of addiction, but as long as you eat it in moderation, the stress reduction effect can prove to be very beneficial.

Most people don't know, but stress can lead to an increase in abdominal fat. This means that dark chocolate can actually help you lose belly fat. Surprising, right?

Naturally, this article is not an invitation to stuff yourself silly with chocolate. You shouldn't overdo things. However, a small bar here and there can do little harm and much good.

To learn how to lose belly fat fast, go to How to Burn Belly Fat Fast.

To learn more about why chocolate is healthy go here: Healthy Benefits of Dark Chocolate.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. He now runs a weight loss forum and publishes a diet and fitness newsletter.

There are a lot of reasons why dark chocolate is many of Americans favorite cravings, there have been scientific studies that are showing exactly what is inside of a piece of dark chocolate. There is more to it than you think. There are a few chemicals inside every piece of chocolate that helps your body to produce natural feel good chemicals, as well as helping your kidney and liver to push out toxins that are being stored in your bloodstream. These toxins are responsible for bringing down your mood, and giving you that depressed feeling that you feel all too often.

This depressed mood is caused by stress normally incurred in your day to day life, but then life tends to get rough, your brain automatically releases chemicals to try and calm you down. The thing about these chemicals is though, that they suppress your body, and your brain function, giving you that down mood that is all too common. When life gets you down like this though, reach over for a piece of Dove dark chocolate, it's going to do more than just fix your sweet tooth. The natural substances inside of dark chocolate help to push the toxins from your blood stream, as well as getting your brain to turn around, and start producing chemicals that are going to help you feel a lot better. This feel good chemical, serotonin, begins being released as soon as you swallow your first bite.

There are a few types of dark chocolate that are a bit healthier for you than the run of the mill sugar based type. The first being organic dark chocolate, usually fetches a little higher price tag at the market, or health food store, because of the way that the cocoa is grown, and the amount of work that really goes into producing an organic chocolate. The farmers will avoid using pesticides, herbicides, and growth hormones to keep the amount of chemicals found inside of their plants down, and while it hasn't been proven, there is logical reason saying that removing harmful pesticides from foods you eat, can't possibly hurt you.

Sugar free dark chocolate is another way to enjoy your favorite sweet tooth fix, but it does take a little bit longer for your brain to start releasing serotonin, because of the lack of sugar. Sugar tends to speed up your blood flow, and digestive system which explains why regular dark chocolate gives you the pick me up so much quicker.

To learn more about dark chocolate and other nutritional diet tips visit:
fillinglowcaloriefoods.com

I notice that with most sweets, the more I eat the more I want and the worse I feel. So I switched to dark chocolate as my "sweet" of choice. It is not actually very sweet, and that is a big benefit. Because dark chocolate is low in sugar, it doesn't trigger my desire for more. I can be satisfied with a small amount without craving other sweets.

Dark chocolate has been recognized for a number of health benefits. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, a group of antioxidants naturally found in certain fruits, vegetables, teas, wines, nuts, seeds and roots. Flavonoids are thought to reduce the risk of blood clots and to increase the blood flow in arteries. Cocoa has been found to have nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times those found in green tea.

Studies have demonstrated that even small amounts of dark chocolate has a modest effect on lowering blood pressure. Just 30 calories worth of dark chocolate lowered blood pressure an average of 2.9 millimeters of mercury for the systolic pressure (which is the first or top number). Chocolate also improves mood by boosting serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain.

This is all good, but there are limits. Chocolate is high fat and high calorie, so we still need to be moderate about how much we eat. One ounce (28.35 grams) is considered a reasonable size serving. That amount contains somewhere in the range of 135-150 calories. Because dark chocolate is so satisfying in small amounts, many people find that even a smaller quantity works. One square of my favorite is enough for me, and just 60 calories.

Cocoa beans naturally contain caffeine, and since dark chocolate contains higher levels of cocoa it often contains more caffeine then milk chocolate. A one ounce serving averages about 20 mg of caffeine. This is less than most caffeinated soft drinks (35 - 60 mg) or coffee (ave 130 mg); but it is enough caffeine that those who are sensitive may want to avoid dark chocolate close to bedtime.

When purchasing dark chocolate, look for something that has 70% or more cocoa. Also look for products made with cocoa butter instead of fats such as palm and coconut oils. Avoid 'hydrogenated' or partially hydrogenated' additives. In the US some companies reduce the amount of cocoa butter without using vegetable fats by adding polyglycerol polyricinoleate, which is an artificial castor oil-derived emulsifier that stimulates the mouthfeel of fat.

While dark chocolate generally has lower sugar levels than other forms of chocolate, the sugar content varies. A little market research I conducted revealed a range of sugar levels from a low of 3.5 grams of sugar per ounce (Lindt Extra Dark) to a high of 12.7 grams per ounce (Dove Dark). Regular chocolate has 16 grams/ounce (Hershey's). If you have trouble stopping after a small portion, try another brand with lower sugar content.

Because of the low sugar content, dark chocolate usually seems pretty bitter at first. It is something of an acquired taste - but I have known avowed milk-chocolate enthusiasts who have switched over in time. Try letting the chocolate melt in your mouth to get maximum satisfaction from the rich texture.

I frequently recommend dark chocolate because it gives us the sense of indulging and yet is easy to eat in small portions. Most sweets and desserts trigger us to crave more. Cutting out sweets can set us up for feeling deprived and over-indulging when we do have them. Dark chocolate is a great substitute. It allows a small pleasurable indulgence without triggering the sugar craving response, and it contains healthful flavonoids. Enjoy!

Kathy Nichols is the Healthy Habits Coach. As a registered dietitian and certified life coach, Kathy helps people who are tired of diets and feeling guilty find a way of eating that is sustainable, healthy and enjoyable. website: http://healthyhabitscoach.com blog: http://healthyhabitscoach.wordpress.com