It seems like news that really is too good to be true. Rather than being a major factor in piling on the pounds, eating large amounts of chocolate is one of the best ways to lose weight, a study has found.
Spanish researchers examined the diets and healthy activities of 1,500 teenagers aged between 12 and 17 in nine European countries, including Spain and the UK. They found that people who admitted eating large amounts of chocolate had, on average, far lower levels of fat over their bodies. In particular, they were trimmer around the stomach area - regardless of whether they had an active lifestyle or were on a diet.
Chocolate was also found to have a positive effect on circulation, blood pressure and heart health. The study, from the University of Granada, backs up earlier findings from the University of California that suggested regular chocolate eaters have less body fat. This may be because while chocolate contains more calories than many other foods, it appears to make the metabolism work harder, offsetting the fat that otherwise might hang around.
There's also the issue of denial. A recent poll found that 86 per cent of slimmers who carried on enjoying their favourite treats successfully lost weight.
如果這項消息是真實的話，那麼對嗜甜如螞蟻的我們真的是一大福音啊～ 西班牙研究人員調查歐洲9個國家共1500名12-17歲的青少年，其飲食與健康活動。他們發現承認吃大量巧克力的人，其體脂肪遠低於平均值，尤其是胃部周圍的區域。
除此之外，巧克力對人體的血液循環、血壓和心臟健康有正面的影響。格拉納達大學(the University of Granada)從先前加州大學(the University of California)的調查結果中得到，經常吃巧克力的人其體脂肪較少，這可能是因為巧克力所含的熱量比其他食品高，且其似乎促進新陳代謝，抵消了脂肪。
另外，最近英國市調公司YouGov與營養科學家 Janet Aylott 針對2,100名減重男女做了民意調查，發現減肥不一定要戒吃甜食，高達91%受訪者在執行減肥計畫時，依然吃下與減重前同樣分量的巧克力，卻仍能有效減重；86%的受訪者在減重期間吃巧克力，反而更易減重。
- Back up 倒退回去；退後
They couldn't understand , so he backed up and told them once more . 因為他們不懂, 所以他就倒回去, 重新解釋一遍。
- Metabolism (n.) 新陳代謝
- Offset (v.) 抵銷
The pay raise will be offset by inflation. 增加的工資會被通貨膨脹所抵銷。
- Denial (n.) 否認、否定
- Poll (n.) 民意調查
Recent polls show Labour well in the lead . 最近的民意調查結果顯示工黨遙遙領先。
- Slimmer (n.) 減重者；減肥者
- Carry on 繼續
They managed to carry on their experiments in spite of the difficulties .
雖有困難, 他們還是設法使試驗繼續下去。
Janet Aylott, a nutrition scientist for Nutracheck, which commissioned the survey, said: ‘Extensive research has proven that diets centred around food elimination are much more likely to fail. ‘The key is to take a more relaxed approach and to have a little of what you like.’
Previous research has shown that dieters who completely eliminate treats such as chocolate, wine and biscuits are often more likely to put on weight as they ‘compensate’ by eating more of other foods.
One study even showed that as many as 65 per cent of those who give up all treats actually end up ballooning in weight. Another recent study from the University of Cambridge found people who enjoyed chocolate every day were 29 per cent less likely to have a stroke and 37 per cent less likely to suffer with heart disease than those who avoided it most of the time.
It is the flavonoids in cocoa beans - a key ingredient in chocolate - that seem responsible for the health benefits of chocolate. These flavonoids (also found in tea and red wine) act as antioxidants, which help mop up an excess of cell-damaging free radicals.
As a rule, the higher the cocoa content, the more flavonoids and the greater the health benefits - dark chocolate with 40 per cent cocoa solids contains five times more flavonoids than white chocolate and twice as many as milk chocolate.
營養科學家 Janet Aylott 根據市調指出：「許多研究已經證實減肥若完全戒吃甜食，如巧克力、紅酒或小餅乾，反而比較容易減肥失敗。而減肥成功的關鍵則是，採取較輕鬆的態度，以及適量的滿足自己的口腹之慾，其實更能有效幫助減肥」，因為減肥的人往往會有『補償』心態，而導致吃下更多不必要的熱量。
其中一項研究甚至表明，多達65%的人因減肥放棄所有美食，其實只是讓體重不會繼續向上攀升。另一項劍橋大學最新的研究發現，每天吃巧克力的人能減少中風及心臟病的機率。
可可豆中的關鍵成分－類黃酮，似乎是讓巧克力變健康的關鍵因素，而這些類黃酮也可以作為抗氧化劑，有助於避免破壞細胞的自由基過量。通常，可可含量較高的巧克力，類黃酮越多，相對地對健康越好。黑巧克力中的類黃酮是白巧克力的五倍、牛奶巧克力的兩倍多。
- Compensate (v.) 補償、彌補 +for
I must compensate you for your loss . 我必須賠償你的損失。
- Balloon (v.) 像氣球般鼓起、激增 (n.) 氣球
Trade deficits have ballooned . 貿易逆差急速增大。
- Stroke (n.) 中風
He had a stroke yesterday . 他昨天中風了。
- Flavonoid (n.) 類黃酮
- Ingredient (n.) 組成要素、原料
Imagination and hard work are the ingredients of success .
想像力與勤奮工作是成功的要素。
- Antioxidant (n.) 抗氧化劑
- Mop up 掃蕩；清除
- Free Radical (n.) 自由基
As a rule 在多數情況下、通常
As a rule , we get up about six o ' clock . 我們通常六點左右起床。
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2481013/Is-best-diet-news-Eating-plenty-chocolate-SLIM.html#ixzz2jMj0WQjA
