What if the key to shedding extra kilos wasn’t a strict diet or expensive medication – but a chocolate bar?
That’s exactly what a group of Spanish researchers explored in a recent study, and the results are surprising.
Their focus was on collagen – a protein commonly found in connective tissue.
Known for its role in skin and joint health, collagen is now showing promising results as a safe and effective aid in weight management.
The secret lies in how it works
In a 12-week trial, 64 overweight adults were divided into two groups.
Everyone received healthy diet guidance, but only half the participants ate two collagen-enriched protein bars daily – one before lunch and one before dinner, always with a glass of water.
These bars weren’t ordinary snacks. The collagen inside was modified to absorb water and swell in the stomach.
This will create a feeling of fullness and reduce appetite, without changing total calorie intake.
And it worked. The collagen group lost twice as much weight as the others – 3 kg compared to just 1.5 kg. And that wasn’t all.
More than just weight loss
Besides dropping more weight, the collagen group also saw bigger reductions in blood pressure, waist size, and a key liver health marker.
Even more impressive: they appeared to build muscle rather than lose it.
That’s crucial, because muscle mass boosts metabolism – helping the body burn more calories at rest.
Participants also reported feeling less hungry, likely thanks to changes in appetite hormones and the physical effect of the swollen collagen in the stomach.
The bars scored high on taste and caused no side effects – making them a surprisingly appealing alternative to weight loss drugs, which are often costly and come with risks.
While further studies are underway to fully understand how collagen works with gut bacteria and metabolism, one thing is clear for the researchers: something as simple as a chocolate bar could offer a powerful new tool in the fight against obesity.
This article is based on information from Eurekalert.org.