Just cutting this out would help me lose weight, but what snack did Lee Hye-won also can't resist?

Lee Hye-won (45), a former Miss Korea and wife of former soccer player Ahn Jung-hwan, posted a photo of snacks and chocolates she is eating as a snack. / Photo = Lee Hye-won

[Star's Health]

On the 18th, Lee Hye-won posted a photo on her Instagram with the caption, "Just cutting out snacks might make me a slimmer version," along with the message, "Still going to be happy. Adult daily life." The photo she uploaded contained her favorite snacks and chocolates. Netizens commented, "Don't eat too much," "If you eat too much, you'll get diabetes," and "Oh, that looks delicious."

Most snacks are processed foods containing artificial sweeteners, which cause the body to absorb more calories. Artificial sweeteners are not effective for long-term weight control and may actually increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Snacks are refined carbohydrates. Eating refined carbohydrates frequently leads to rapid weight gain. Refined carbohydrates have short chemical bonds in their sugar molecules, so they are quickly converted into glucose when ingested. To address the sudden spike in blood glucose levels, the body secretes excess insulin, which can lead to poor blood sugar regulation and increase the risk of diabetes. When insulin secretion causes blood glucose levels to drop too low, our bodies crave sweets again, and this cycle repeats, leading to frequent carbohydrate cravings. Excessive intake of refined carbohydrates can easily lead to fat accumulation and increase the risk of hypertension and metabolic syndrome.

Chocolate also has a high calorie content. In particular, milk chocolate, which has a richer milk flavor, contains about 530 to 550 kcal per 100g, while white chocolate ranges from 500 to 550 kcal per 100g. Most chocolates available on the market contain high levels of sugar and fat, so it is best to avoid them as much as possible during a diet. However, there is one type of chocolate that can be consumed during dieting: dark chocolate. Dark chocolate refers to chocolate with a cacao content of 35% or higher. The higher the cacao content, the more bitter it becomes. Its calorie content is about 550 kcal per 100g, similar to regular chocolate, but dark chocolate can aid in dieting not because of its calories. It contains compounds such as theobromine, which stimulates the secretion of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, helping to prevent overeating; flavanol, which reduces insulin sensitivity and helps prevent obesity; and phenylethylamine, which gives a feeling of vitality as if falling in love. It is recommended not to consume more than 30 to 40 grams.

Reporter Iara lar@chosun.com