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Coffee is a universally well loved morning staple that actually contains a great number of health benefits when it isn’t loaded with sugars and calorie dense creamers. Not only does it provide you with the caffeine needed to get you through the day, but coffee can also be a useful tool in your weight loss journey when prepared correctly. If you’re looking to maximize your cup of joe in the morning to help you shed those extra pounds and kickstart your metabolism, this is the one thing you should be adding to your coffee to do the trick.
Not only will it add a delicious flavor to your morning beverage, but cocoa powder in your coffee can actually increase your ability to lose weight, improving your overall health while enhancing your metabolism. According to Healthline, “It’s thought that cocoa may help by regulating the use of energy, reducing appetite and inflammation and increasing fat oxidation and feelings of fullness. A population study found that people who consumed chocolate more frequently had a lower BMI than people who ate it less often, despite the former group also eating more calories and fat.”
Dark chocolate has always been well regarded as a food which can aid in healthy weight loss (in moderation, of course) so it’s only natural that cocoa powder in your coffee may have a similar effect. Studies have shown that small amounts of cocoa powder each day can also improve your heart health, so long as the cocoa you choose has a high flavanol content.
According to WebMD, cocoa powder, “is rich in phytonutrients but low in fat and sugar, the calories you get from cocoa powder will be packed with healthy chemicals. Studies have also found that cocoa helps to regulate energy use and metabolism while also increasing feelings of fullness.” While sweets often get a bad rap for causing weight gain, adding cocoa powder to your coffee can actually have the opposite effect, speeding up your metabolism and enhancing your weight loss capabilities.
Coffee is great for weight loss because it contains antioxidants and caffeine which boost your metabolism and increase fat burn. However, if you need something extra to kick your weight loss into high gear, adding a scoop of cocoa powder into your morning coffee may be a great way to minimize inflammation and provide you with more energy to burn throughout the day.
