Throughout the year, topics about weight loss, "fat brushing", and fitness have always been hot on the Internet. "A spoonful of raw cocoa powder + pure milk + half a bottle of yogurt or two spoons of oats, a strong sense of satiety!" "Drop the scale ceiling! Raw cocoa oats make me lose 6 pounds a month"...... Recently, the reporter noticed that the "weight loss drinks" made by some bloggers on social platforms are quite popular and highly liked, and among them, raw cocoa powder has become the "protagonist".
There are countless "circle fans" of raw cocoa powder, but there are also many people who have doubts
Search for "raw cocoa powder" on Xiaohongshu, and more than 40,000 notes jump into your eyes in a second. Some people dry cocoa powder and oolong tea, stir well and then drink. Some people will go with plain milk, yogurt, and some people will add black coffee. Of course, some people brew raw cocoa powder and add oats to eat it as a meal.
"Recommended for sisters who lose fat", "I lost 5 pounds in a week", "I see that there is a supermodel's weight loss meal, and I place an order immediately"...... In popular posts, such descriptions have attracted hundreds of likes and favorites. In the comment area, some people said that it was really useful, and they lost several pounds in a month, and some people said that it was particularly laxative for themselves. "Do you have insomnia after eating it", "Will you have diarrhea if you eat too much of this thing", "Will one spoonful a day exceed the heavy metal standard"...... There are also people who feel a little confused and worried.
Not all netizens who follow the trend and check in feel the satisfactory effect. For example, netizen "pulupupu" bluntly said that on the seventh day of drinking raw cocoa powder, he actually said that he was 0.8 pounds heavier than at the beginning, "I still eat a lot, and I digest it quickly." ”
On the online shopping platform, the reporter searched and found that the sales of raw cocoa powder were also really good. In a food flagship store with as many as 2.5 million fans, the reporter noticed that a raw cocoa powder sells more than 10,000 pieces a month, and a box of 150 grams of raw cocoa powder is priced at 49.9 yuan. The slogan "The same style as a supermodel, easier appetite management!" is eye-catching. "Can I lose weight?" "Is it strong to feel full?" ...... In the comment area, eager netizens left messages.
Simply eating cocoa powder does not have a direct weight loss effect
What exactly is raw cocoa powder, and is there still "cooked" cocoa powder? Gu Zhongyi, director of the Beijing Dietitians Association and a registered dietitian, previously introduced that cocoa powder is a powder made by fermentation, drying, and barbecue. Because it contains a variety of phytochemicals, such as proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavonols, etc., it has strong antioxidant activity and is believed to have a variety of health benefits for the human body. Alkalizing is a treatment in the production of cocoa powder, which can increase solubility, adjust taste and color, and also reduce the astringency, bitterness and sourness of raw cocoa powder. If it is not alkalized, it is natural cocoa powder, also called non-alkalized cocoa powder and raw cocoa powder.
Raw cocoa powder set off a wave of follow-up check-ins, the main reason is because it is claimed that "it can lose weight and suppress appetite", so does it really have such an effect? "There is no single food that can be said to be like an artifact that will be able to lose weight, in fact, raw cocoa powder is not low in calories even as a meal replacement." Wang Xia, the attending physician of the Nutrition Department of Nanjing Second Hospital, calculated an account for reporters, cocoa powder contains nearly 400 kilocalories per 100 grams, while broccoli, which is recognized as a "diet food", only contains 36 kilocalories per 100 grams.
On the other hand, in Wang Xia's view, the so-called appetite suppression is not necessarily the effect of raw cocoa powder. "At present, there is no authoritative verification of the appetite suppressant effect of raw cocoa powder in the various literatures we can see. In Wang Xia's view, some "beauty seekers" have been on a diet, often not eating resulting in a slow decrease in stomach capacity, and in the later stage, they feel that they can't eat after eating a little greasy or eating too much, "In fact, it is not cocoa powder that may suppress appetite, but the human body is not able to suppress appetite in the short term when energy intake is insufficient." ”
Experts remind that whether it is weight loss, "fat brushing" or fitness methods, its essential principle is to control the calorie gap, and calorie consumption is greater than calorie intake in order to achieve the goal. No matter how you eat, you should pay attention to balanced nutrition to ensure that the human body needs to consume several major types of nutrients every day. "Carbohydrates should also be eaten, but you can reduce the intake of fine rice noodles and choose potatoes or grains. Lipids (unsaturated fatty acids), high-quality protein, fresh vegetables and fruits are also ensured. Wang Xia pointed out that due to the high dietary fiber content, raw cocoa powder can also be eaten in moderation, but it is recommended to only use it as an occasional fasting meal replacement, "Drinking three meals a day but not eating anything else is obviously not conducive to the balanced nutrition of the body." ”
Yangtze Evening News/Purple Cow News reporter Lu Yanlin
Proofread by Faye Wong