Category Archives: Nutrition

It’s no secret that chocolate is one of the most popular sweets available. In 2001, it was estimated that Americans consumed around three billion pounds of the candy. Consuming too much chocolate can certainly have negative effects, but when done right, some research suggests the candy could actually be good for you. But can chocolate lower BMI? A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has found that people who eat chocolate frequently have a lower average BMI than people who eat chocolate less often. Participants in this study certainly didn’t indulge in a full chocolate cake, of course. Instead, participants treated the chocolate more like a supplement in their lifestyles, consuming the tasty treat about two times a week. Participants in the study also exercised an average of 3.6 times each week.

Eating an apple to lose weight could be a reasonable part of your weight loss regimen. Besides being a snack that contains very little fat or sodium, some research suggests that apples could play a part in kidney stone prevention as well as reduced risk of skin and respiratory diseases. Apples are also a good source of soluble fiber. Recently, however, a new study conducted on mice suggests that the peels of an apple actually contain a powerful ingredient capable of preventing obesity and spurring weight loss. The compound, known as ursolic acid, is also found in cranberries, prunes and various herbs (thyme, oregano, lavender, rosemary, basil, peppermint, etc.) in addition to apple peels, though it’s most concentrated in the latter. Previous studies have indicated that ursolic acid may have strong anti-cancer properties as well.