Motivation Monday!

You need to challenge your body in order to see the change that you want. Mix up your workouts and add difficulty.

What do you do to challenge yourself?

Foods That Are Good For Your Teeth

Yes, we all know that brushing, flossing and rinsing are all essential for healthy teeth. But did you know that eating certain foods can also be good for your teeth? Make your dentist happy be eating these foods.

Milk. Drinking milk can promote healthy teeth and bones thanks to the calcium. If you do not drink milk, use a toothpaste that can remineralize your teeth.

Green tea. Green tea has the reputation of providing many health benefits. One of these benefits is that it may promote good dental health because it contains polyphenols. Polyphenols help clean plaque from the teeth. Green tea has natural antioxidants that prevent plaque from accumulating, therefore reducing the risk of cavities and bad breath.

Cheese. Cheese has similar properties to milk. Cheese also make the mouth nonacidic and raises calcium levels. It also helps produce more saliva, rebuild tooth enamel, and kill the bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease.

Crunch fruits and vegetables. Crunchy fruits and vegetables get saliva flowing in your mouth. This creates an alkaline environment which protects teeth from exposure to acid.

Yogurt. Harmful germs in the mouth can cause dental problems. Yogurt can help decrease the bad bacteria and promote the growth of healthy, protective bacteria.

Water. Water is a essential part of our lives, but is also good for our teeth. Water cleans out your mouth, hydrates you gums, and help wash away food particles that can cause plaque.

Eat/drink these along with a healthy balanced diet and your body will thank you!

Sources:
Dental.net Staff. "Dental.net." What Foods Are Good for Your Teeth? Dental.net, 27 July 2010. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://www.dental.net/dental-nutrition/foods-good-for-teeth/>.

Stewart, Kristen. "Good-for-Your-Mouth Foods." EverydayHealth.com. 21 Dec. 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/good-for-your-mouth-foods.aspx?xid=tw_everydayhealth_20111222_teeth>.

The Germiest Places In Your Life

Germs are very common in our lives. They are at home, work, the gym, your car etc. However, there are several places that are host to large amount of germs. Many of these places you wouldn't expect to be covered in germs. So clean them more regularly, sanitize them or avoid them all together. Here they are..

The TV remote. Remotes are touched by so many people, especially in hotels. You don't know who has stayed in the hotel room before you and they could've left you some germs. So wipe off your TV remote with an antibacterial wipe at home every couple of days. Or if you are in a hotel, wipe it off immediately. While you're at it, wipe off the door handles, light switches and faucet handles. Also put on socks/slippers and throw off the bedspread (urine and semen have been found on both), these will not make you sick - it's just gross!

You phone. Germs from your hands and they outside world end up on your phone then by your mouth, ears and nose. Phones can have more than 25,000 germs per square inch. Make sure to wipe off your phone everyday to get rid of those germs.

Your bathtub. It is ironic that the place you go to get clean can be so dirty. Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D., found the staphylococcus bacteria in 26% of bathtubs that she tested. This bacteria can cause serious skin infections. Bathtubs contain around 100,000 bacteria per square inch. This is because we wash the germs and viruses off of our body and into the tub. The tub is a moist environment in which bacteria love to grow. Scott says to apply a disinfecting cleaner to your tub once a week. You will need to scrub, wash the germs down the drain and then dry with a clean towel.

Gym mats and machines. Sweaty people that you don't know have been using this equipment and you don't know what is on them. Wipe down machines before you use them with an antibacterial wipe that they gym should provide. Bring your own yoga mat or cover the one at the gym up with a towel. Shower immediately after a work out to wash away any bacteria that you may have been exposed to.

Playgrounds. Kids often have bodily fluids dripping from them and then they get spread around. Blood, saliva, urine and mucus (just to name a few) have been found on many playgrounds. Then kids often put their hands in their mouths and noses, giving them direct contanct to these germs. What you can do is carry sanitizing wipes or gel and sanitize hands and couple times while at the playground. Then definitely wash your hands with soap and water when you leave.

Your purse. If you are like me, your purse goes everywhere with you including the bacteria you come in contact with. Purses can have up to a million types of bacteria on them, including salmonella and E. coli! Reduce your risk by putting your purse on a hook or chair instead of on the floor. Do not put it on the kitchen counter! You do not want those germs getting in contact with your food. Also, wipe your purse down every few days.

ATM buttons. When I go to the ATM I expect to get cash, not germs. However, most of those buttons have more germs on then than door knobs in a public bathroom. ATMs are not cleaned often, but they are touched quite frequently. Carry hand sanitizer to use after visiting the ATM or handling money which also carries a lot of germs.

Shopping cart handles. I know the first thing I do when I walk into the grocery store is grab a sanitizing wipe BEFORE I even touch the shopping cart. I wipe off the handles and the seat where my purse goes. Saliva, bacteria and fecal matter have all been found on the handles. Put raw meat, fruits and vegetables in a bag to keep these germs away from your food.

Public drinking fountains. Drinking fountains can contain anywhere from 62,000 to 2.7 million bacteria per square inch on the spigot, says Robert Donofrio Ph.D. To avoid these germs, carry your own water bottle with you like I do.

A load of wet laundry. Really? This was a surprise to me, but it makes sense. "Anytime you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you're going to get E. coli on your hands," Dr. Gerba says. Reduce your risk by running your dryer at atleast 150 degrees F for atleast 45 minutes. Also, transfer your laundry quickly so that germs do not have the chance to multiply. Wash your hands after handling your wet laundry.

Airplane bathrooms. Yes, bathrooms carry many germs, but airplane bathrooms especially. This is because there is only about 1 bathroom for every 50 people and they are cramped and overused. When the toilet flushes, whatever germs were in there will literally cover everything in the bathroom. Protect yourself with a toilet seat cover and using a paper towel to flush, turn on the water and open the door so your skin does not come in direct contact with these surfaces.

The kitchen sink. The typical sink contains 500,000 bacteria per square inch. Clean the sink every few days with an antibacterial product or everytime after you prepare raw food. Sponges are also covered in bacteria so run them through the dishwashers drying cycle to eliminate them.

Source:
"The Germiest Places in America." - MyHomeIdeas.com. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. <http://www.myhomeideas.com/healthy-home/healthy-solutions/germiest-places-america-10000001870168/>.

Sea Salt Vs. Table Salt - Which Is Better?

Sea salt has boomed with popularity lately as being a healthy alternative to table salt. The hype around sea salt is the claim that it is "natural" and contains minerals that table salt does not have. With all the marketing around sea salt it is hard to understand the difference between it and table salt, if there is much a difference.

Sea salt is produced through evaporation of seawater, usually with little processing, which may leave behind trace amounts of minerals. The truth is that the minerals are in such low quantity that they don't make a difference to your health. Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits and is more processed, to give it a finer texture.

By weight, both sea salt and table salt contain the same amount of sodium. According to a survey done by the American Heart Association, 61% of respondents believed that sea salt is a low-sodium alternative to table salt. Sea salt does contain a more intense flavor so you may end up using less of it.

There are no health benefits of using sea salt over table salt. The only difference between the two is taste. Keep in mind that the American Heart Association recommends limiting your sodium intake to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day. Most people consume far too much sodium, so no matter which you choose, use it lightly.

Source:
"Sea Salt Vs. Table Salt." Www.heart.org. 26 Aug. 2011. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Sea-Salt-Vs-Table-Salt_UCM_430992_Article.jsp>.

Motivation Monday

I love this! What you do today does affect your future. So go for a walk, put down the soda, take a class or make a healthy meal.

Why You Should Be Strength Training

Many people think of strength training as a guy thing, but strength training needs to be for everyone. If you are omitting strength training, you are missing a key component of health and fitness. Everyone, no matter how young or old, should be doing some sort of regular strength training program. There are many benefits that come with a regular strength training program.

"Use it or lose it."
As you age, muscle mass naturally decreases. "If you don't do anything to replace the lean muscle you lose, you'll increase the percentage of fat in your body," says Edward Laskowski, M.D. "Strength training can help you preserve and enhance you muscle mass, at any age." You lose about 5-7 pounds of muscle every decade after age 20. Strength training can help prevent this loss or rebuild what you have already lost.

Weight control.
Muscle helps burn calories which can result in weight loss. The more muscle mass that you have, the more calories you will burn. It works out that every pound of muscle that you gain you will burn an extra 35-50 calories a day. This boost in metabolism is essential for long term weight loss.

Strengthen bones.
Strength training stresses your bones which increases bone density and reduces your risk of osteoporosis. This is especially important for women.

Reduce injury risk.
Muscle protects joints from injury.

Reduce blood pressure.
Strength training strengthens your heart and allows it to beat more efficiently.

Increase stamina.
You won't fatigue as easily as you get stronger.

Manage chronic conditions.
Strength training can reduce signs and symptoms of many conditions including; arthritis, diabetes, back pain, depression, osteoporosis and obesity.

Women's weight training myth.
Weight training for women will not make them bulky/masculine looking. Women do not and cannot naturally produce as much testosterone as men can. Testosterone is what is responsible for producing bulky/masculine looking muscles. It is impossible for women to get huge amounts of muscle mass from weight listing

The basics.
You don't need to head to the gym to do a strength training workout. Body weight exercises such as push-ups and lunges are effective and can be done anywhere. Resistance bands and dumbbells are another great option and are easy to store.

Don't forget a 5-10 minute warm-up prior to strength training. You will want to choose a weight or resistance level that will tire your muscles after about 12 repetitions. Remember, over time you will need to gradually increase your resistance.

Do 2-3 strength training sessions a week for about 20-30 minutes.

Give your muscles recovery time. You will need one full day of rest for each specific muscle group. It is during recovery when muscle mass is increased.

Remember to always get a doctors approval before starting a new workout program.

Sources:
Mueller, Jen. "Why Strength Training Is a Must for Everyone." SparkPeople. Spark People. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=364.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Strength Training: Get Stronger, Leaner, Healthier." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 30 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/strength-training/HQ01710>.

Surprising Reasons to Stop Drinking Soda

It is common knowledge that soda is not good for you. However, many still drink it. Here are some surprising reasons why you may want to put down that soda can.

Speed up aging. Soda contains phosphates (phosphoric acid) which give them their flavor and long shelf life. While phosphates exist naturally in some whole foods, too much phosphoric acid can lead to heart and kidney problems, muscle loss and osteoporosis. Also, a study published in the FASEB journal found that the high phosphate levels in soda caused lab rats to die 5 weeks earlier than rats that had normal phosphate levels. This is troubling because soda manufacturers have been increasing their phosphate levels over the past few decades.

Toxic cans. Not only does soda itself cause problems, so do the cans! Almost all aluminum soda cans are lined with bisphenol A (BPA). This is used to keep the acids that are in soda from reacting with the metal from the can. BPA is known to interfere with hormones and cause infertility, obesity, reproductive cancers, plus much more. The Centers for Disease Control has labeled soda cans as a major source of BPA.

Tooth decay. The acid in soda erodes tooth enamel and causes tooth decay.

Cravings. Aspartame, found in diet sodas, is known to increase carbohydrate cravings and promote weight gain. Also, aspartame leads to an increase in cravings for sugar or sweets.

Adverse effects. Sodas adversely interact with antacids which can lead to nausea, headaches, constipation and kidney damage.

Water pollution. Artificial sweeteners that are used in diet sodas do not break down in our bodies or water treatment plants. This means that these chemicals are entering into waterways and interfering with nature.

Thirst. If you are thirsty, a soda will not do the trick. It may actually leaving you thirstier than you were before.

Source:
"30 HEALTH REASONS NOT TO DRINK SODA OR DIET SODA." Creating Extraordinary Lives. Hccua. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. <http://www.hccua.org/health/healthandwellness.cfm?id=311>.

Motivation Monday!

Make sure that what you are putting in your body is healthy!

"Health" Foods That Can Make You Fat

We all know that french fries and potato chips are not good for us. However, there are some surprising health food imposters that are actually not good for us at all. These foods with a healthy reputation can actually be worse for you than vending machines and fast food.

Dried Fruit. Cup for cup, dried fruit had 5 - 8 times more calories than fresh fruit. This is because the dried fruit has been hydrated and therefore is much denser. There are many brands that add extra sugar to add sweetness, but it also adds (a lot of) extra calories!

Granola. Granola does contain healthy nuts and oats. However, to make it taste good there is oil and sugar added. A bowl of granola can actually have more sugar than a can of coke.

Juice. Most juice is essentially water and sugar. A serving of juice can actually contain more calories and sugar than a can of soda.

Wraps. The surface area of a wrap is huge, more than 2 slices of bread. Therefore, if you add mayo and dressing, you will end up adding a lot more than compared to a regular sandwich.

Bottled Teas. Most ready-made store bought teas are packed with sugar, honey or sweeteners that add a lot of calories. This brings the calorie count almost to a bottle of soda.

Rice Cakes. While rice cakes are fat-free and low in calories, they do not contain fiber or protein - important ingredients that curb hunger. This goes to show that after your snack, you still make be craving something of substance. In addition, the flavored varieties are likely packed with sodium and sugar.

Salads. Yes, salads can be healthy. It's the cheese, croutons and dressings that can make salads unhealthy. This is when you salad sky rockets with calories and fat.

Why You Should Be Doing Yoga

What is yoga?
Yoga is a mind-body experience that some even use as a form of alternative medicine. Yoga is a physical and mental discipline. Through yoga you can achieve peacefulness, relax, and reduce stress and anxiety. There are many different styles and forms of yoga, so you can find the one that suits you best.

Health benefits of yoga.
  Flexibility: Stretching your body in new ways can increase flexibility, range of motion in the 
  muscles and joints.

  Strength: Poses in yoga require you to support your body in new ways. This challenge provides a
  "shock" to your body which results in increased strength.

  Muscle Tone: As a result of increasing strength, you will see an increase in muscle tone. Yoga 
  helps shape long, lean muscles (which also helps reduce cellulite.)

  Reduce Stress: Yoga distracts you from your busy life and can calm you down. Instead of focusing
  on your chaotic day you are concentrating on the precise movements in a quiet atmosphere. Yoga 
  provides a break from your stressors and helps put things in perspective. Yoga teaches you to be in 
  the moment and not dwell on past events or worry about the future. Physical activity alone reduces
  stress.

  Pain Prevention: With increased flexibility and strength pain can be reduced. Yoga helps with your
  alignment which helps your pain even after your workout.

  Better Breathing: Most people breathe very shallowly into their lungs, not using their lung's full 
  potential. Most of us don't put much thought into how we breathe. Yoga breathing exercises bring
  attention to your breath and teach us how to use our lungs more efficiently. This helps your entire 
  body. Better breathing has both physical and mental benefits.

  Calmness: While you are concentrating so intently on what your body is doing, your mind and
  body become calm.

  Body Awareness: You often need to make small, precise movements to improve your body
  alignment. As you continue with yoga, you will continue to grow more comfortable with your own
  body. This will lead to increased posture and self-confidence.
  Weight Loss: Yoga can encourage a healthy lifestyle and promote weight loss. Yoga increases your
  metabolism and control hunger.

  Slow Down Aging: Yoga stimulates a detoxing of the body which slows down the aging process.

  Blood Pressure: Through regular yoga practice blood pressure can be reduced due to better
  circulation and oxygenation of the body.

  Other: Yoga also promotes better sleep, increased mood, decreased anxiety and depression, and an
  improved memory.

As always, consult your health care provider before starting an exercise routine.

Source:
Walker, Meredith. "77 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga." Nursing Schools : LPN RN BSN MSN : Online Nursing Degree. Nursing Degree. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/24/77-surprising-health-benefits-of-yoga/>.

Motivation Monday

Defend Yourself From Food Cravings

No matter what time of day, we all experience food cravings. From salty, to fatty or sugary. These food cravings can really throw your diet off course. Food cravings can be both psychological and physiological, which makes trying to ignore them very difficult. Follow these tips for a few easy ways to defend yourself against the temptation.

Don't skip meals.
Skipping meals or going longer than 5 hours without eating will cause your blood sugar to drop and your cravings to rise.

Eat breakfast.
Research has shown that people who eat breakfast weigh less than those that do not. People who skip breakfast are more likely to make poor food choices later on in the day.

Stay hydrated.
Dehydration can often be mistaken for hunger. Water can help you feel full and keep your mind off of food cravings. It is important to drink water before you get thirsty. By the time you are thirsty, you are often already dehydrated.

Pick protein.
Eating every meal with a source of lean protein will help you feel fuller, longer and suppress your appetite. Protein also helps control blood sugar.

Brush your teeth.
So simple. Once your mouth is squeaky clean, you aren't going to want to mess it up. Wash those food cravings out of your mouth.

Distract yourself.
We crave food when we are bored, stressed, anxious etc. This is how food cravings become psychological. Find a way to distract yourself to get your mind off the cravings. Read a book, call a friend or go shopping to give yourself something to do. Make it something that you enjoy.

Chew on gum.
Recent studies have shown that chewing on gum can reduce food cravings. Make sure it is sugarless with few, or no, calories.

Exercise.
Exercise gets your mind off food cravings and can help suppress them. Also, after a workout, you aren't going to want to have it go to waste by eating unhealthy. You are more likely to make healthier choices after a workout.

Eliminate refined foods.
Research has shown that people can become addicted to refined foods. White bread, white sugar and white pasta are all examples of refined foods. When this happens, the more you eat, the more you crave. If you eliminate refined foods from your diet, you can reduce your cravings. Replace refined foods with fiber and whole grains.

Eat fiber.
Fiber keeps you fuller, longer and is great for digestion.

Clean out your cupboards/desk.
If you don't have unhealthy foods around, you can't eat them.

Avoid high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
HFCS is a popular sweetener in foods because it is inexpensive and has a long shelf life. Consuming even a small amount makes you want more.

SOURCES:
Katherine Tallmadge, MARD, American Dietetic Association spokeswoman. Ruth Patrick, PhD, LDN, food science communicator, Institute of Food Technologists. Fergus Clydesdale, PhD, distinguished professor and head of food science department, University of Massachusetts. Lisa Dorfman, MSRD, LMHC, American Dietetic Association spokeswoman. WebMD Weight Loss Clinic article: "Are You a Midnight Muncher?" by Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, published Sept. 12, 2003.

Your Target Heart Rate During Exercise

To get the most out of your workout you need to be working in your target heart rate zone. It has been shown that you need to get your heart rate up to a certain level for a certain amount of time to make sure that your heart is getting an efficient workout.

What is your target heart rate?
Your target heart rate is a percentage of your maximum heart rate. Your maximum heart rate is the fastest that your heart can safely beat for your age. If you want to improve your fitness level, your heart rate needs to be in this zone for at least 20 minutes. This is the minimum level for health and weight loss.

Importance of your heart rate
Your heart rate determines how hard your heart is working. Failing to get your heart rate up to your target heart rate zone can lead to a less effective workout. Getting your heart rate too far above your target heart rate zone can lead to fatigue, injury or even death.

How to determine your target heart rate
There is an easy formula that applies to the general population:
(using a 20 year old as an example)
1. 220-your age = max heart rate (ex. 220-20 = 200 max heart rate)
2. 60-80% of your max heart rate = target heart rate zone
3. ex. 200 x .6 = 120 beats per minute
    ex. 200 x .8 = 160 beats per minute
4. Target heart rate for the average 20 year old = 120-160 beats per minute.

Heart rate monitors are also a great, easy way to determine your heart rate.

How to find your heart rate
1. Take your pulse by lightly placing your first 2 fingers over blood vessel either..
  - On the under side of your wrist (by your thumb) or..
  - On either side of your neck next to your Adam's apple
2. Then count the number of beats for 6 seconds
3. Multiply that number by 10
This way it gives you your beats per minute without having to stop exercising for a full minute. Take you pulse after you have been exercising for at least 5 minutes.

If you reach this intensity 3-5 times a week you will be on your way to success!

How Does Creatine Supplementation Effect Your Workout?

If you are looking to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance, you may have heard of creatine supplementation. Creatine supplements are very popular among body builders and athletes. American's spend around $14 million per year on these supplements. Many turn to creatine in hopes of increasing lean muscle mass and enhancing athletic performance.

What is creatine?
Creatine, a naturally occurring amino acid, is a protein building block. Creatine is found in fish and meat and is also made by the human body. It is later converted into phosphocreatine and stored in ther muscles and used for energy. Creatine is useful when it comes to high-intensity, short-duration activities such as weight lifting or sprinting. This is because phosphocreatine is converted into ATP, which is a major energy source within the body.

Creatine is allowed by the International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and professional sports.

How it works.
Creatine gives muscles the energy they need to work. Muscular contractions depend on ATP and how quickly it can be regenerated. Therefore, the increase in creatine is thought to increase the force of muscular contractions.

Positive effects of creatine.
Creatine is beneficial for increasing lean muscle mass, muscle power and strength, muscle glycogen accumulation (for increased energy storage and utilization capacity). Creatine is also beneficial for decreasing lactate production, fatigue, recovery time, inflammation and muscle soreness. Creatine also helps people with congestive heart failure, Parkinson's disease and gyrate atrophy (an eye disease).

Negative effects of creatine.
Creatine can lead to gastrointestinal stress and diarrhea. Creatine may be associated with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. When taken in high doeses damage to the liver, kidney or heart may occur. Many people gain weight with creatine. This is because creatine causes muscle to hold water, not because it actually builds muscle. There can also be dangerous interactions with caffeine and certain medications, always consult a healthcare provider. Other side effects include; muscle cramps, muscle strains, upset stomach, dizziness and high blood pressure.

Is creatine effective?
Most research suggests creatine can be effective with exercise. Evidence suggests that creatine can improve athletic performance of young, healthy people with sport, high-intensity exercise (ex. sprinting). It does not seem to help with those over 60 years old or highly trained athletes. Creatine does not help with aerobic exercises. However, not all human studies show that creatine improves athletic performance. Also, not everybody responds the same way to creatine supplementation. If someone already has a high stores of creatine in their muscles, then they do not get the extra benefit from supplementation.

Sources:
Boone, Tommy, ed. "Creatine and Exercise - Strong Evidence for Stronger Heart Muscle?" Journal of Exercise Physiology 15.5 (2011). Web. 3 Apr. 2012.

Hall, Jenni. "Creatine Supplementation - Is It Effective?" School of Physiotherapy. 2001. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. http://physiotherapy.curtin.edu.au/resources/educational-resources/exphys/01/creatine.cfm.

Motivation Monday

It may seem hard to reach your goals. It may seem like it takes a lot to get there. Keep sticking to it!

Chocolate For Weight Loss?

Photo Courtesy of ScienceDaily.com

Chocolate for weight loss may sound too good to be true, but is it? According to a new study, people who eat chocolate frequently actually weigh less than those who eat it less frequently. Good news for chocolate lovers! However, before you go running for the closest king-size chocolate bar, make sure to read below.

The study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that people who ate chocolate five times a week had a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who ate it less frequently.

The study also showed that frequent chocolate eaters actually reported eating more calories and saturated fat than the people who ate chocolate less frequently. This is interesting because this may show that the calories in chocolate may be offset by its other ingredients that may boost your metabolism.

Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD, an associate professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego says, "With modest amounts of chocolate, may have the effect of being free calories of even better than free - at least, the associations look that way." Dr. Golomb stated that the weight difference between the two groups was modest, but interesting given that more calories and saturated fat were consumed.

Dr. Golomb says that chocolate contains antioxidants that other research shows to possibly boost the energy-producing elements of the body's cells. She also states that chocolate appears to have favorable metabolic effects because fewer calories end up as fat deposited in the body. Chocolate contains polyphenols which can improve blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and blood sugar. Other studies link eating chocolate to lowering your risk of a heart attack, boosting weight loss and protecting your skin from sun damage.

Before you go overboard with your consumption of chocolate, it still needs to be eaten in moderation. Try limiting your portions to a one ounce piece of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is the better way to go because it has a higher concentration of antioxidants and has less sugar than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate is bittersweet, which suppresses the appetite, whereas sweet stimulates the appetite.

Eating chocolate is not the only thing you need to do to lose weight. Eating chocolate needs to be partnered with exercise and a healthy diet. Remember, a one ounce portion of dark chocolate a day is recommended.

Source:
Goodman, MA, Brenda. "Eat More Chocolate, Weigh Less?" WebMD. WebMD, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2012. http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20120326/eat-more-chocolate-weigh-less.

Mandal, Dr. Ananya. "Chocolate for Weight Loss: Study." THE MEDICAL NEWS. 27 Mar. 2012. Web. 31 Mar. 2012. <http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120327/Chocolate-for-weight-loss-Study.aspx>.