Scientists: Eating chocolate for breakfast has unexpected benefits

Good news for lovers of milk chocolate: according to a new joint study conducted by scientists from the University of Murcia (Spain) and Harvard Medical School (USA), you can eat it in the morning without worrying about your weight.

Eating a small amount of chocolate for a short time in the morning can help the body burn fat and lower blood sugar.

The study involved 19 menopausal women who consumed 100 grams of chocolate every day for two weeks in the morning (within an hour after waking) or at night (1 hour before bed). The researchers then tested the participants’ weight, sugar levels, and gut bacteria.

The results of a study published in the journal FASEB showed that regular consumption of milk chocolate within an hour after waking up and one hour before bed reduces appetite and sugar cravings, helps burn fat, lowers blood sugar, improves gut microbiota formation and has a positive effect on sleep.

Marta Jarrol, one of the study’s authors, said: “Our results highlight that not just what we eat, but the time we eat it, can influence many physiological processes. Milk chocolate eaten over a period of time reduces energy intake, which is what It corresponds to decreased hunger, appetite and sugar cravings. As a result, our volunteers did not gain weight despite their increased calorie intake.”