If you are a health-conscious athlete or a person who just want to stay as fit and healthy as possible, you will probably cut down all sweet-treats from your diet. But do you know that studies are repeatedly showing that chocolate can help boost your athletic performance?
If we go back to its origin and take a closer look at the fruit called cocoa and its rich phytochemical bounty, we will know how beneficial it can be to your health and physical performance. According to recent studies, consuming dark chocolate every day can help athletes and fitness enthusiasts train better. Researchers found that dark chocolate provides similar benefits to beetroot juice taken regularly by elite athletes to boost performance.
Here are the 6 health benefits of dark chocolate that can affect positively on your health and fitness plans:
- Anti-Stress
Scientific study proves that eating a chocolate bar can help you relieve stress. Cocoa is rich in many compounds, including theobromine, a mild, gentle relative of caffeine that’s responsible for mild mental stimulatory properties. Cocoa is also rich in tryptophan, which is used to make the calming brain chemical serotonin, along with other nutrients that stimulate relaxation. These nutrients counteract each other and together they promote relaxed energy and positive impact on mood.
- Good for Heart
Dark chocolate has been widely acclaimed for its positive effects on cardiovascular health. Recently, a study undertaken at London’s Kingston University has found the dark chocolate helps give sports enthusiasts an extra edge in their fitness training. It dilates your blood vessels to increase the blood flow for better performance of the heart. In addition it also helps you to get into better shape.
- Lowers Blood Pressure
Dark Chocolate supports blood circulation and helps in lowering blood pressure. Since it is endowed with specific nutrients called flavonoids – epicatechin, which improves the cardiovascular system in many useful ways. It supports optimal blood flow as well as desirable blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Optimal blood flow to the muscle during and after exercise could translate to better performance and recovery maximization because blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to muscle while also removing waste molecules like carbon dioxide and lactic acid.
- Reduces Inflammation
Dark chocolate is packed with an antioxidant arsenal that can be of help to people who burn more calories and therefore produce more cell-damaging free radicals in their muscle tissue. According to a study, researchers found that when cyclists consumed dark chocolate daily for two weeks, they felt a reduction in signs of inflammation during recovery from a vigorous endurance and sprint challenge. In another study, non-athletic women who added dark chocolate in their diet for a few weeks also improved signs of inflammation.
- Other Benefits
Flavonoids are naturally occurring chemicals in many foods like fruit, vegetables, tea, and red wine. They are also abundant in cocoa powder, dark and milk chocolate. There are anti-viral, anti-allergic, anti-tumor and antioxidant. In addition, they are one of the best types of naturally occurring substances that you can take into your body when you eat.
After reading out amazing benefits, you need to start including it in your diet if you still haven’t already. Enjoy eating around 20g or so means 2 large squares of a 100g bar every day. About 70{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} or more cocoa solids are recommended and 85{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} is even better as it has more cocoa and less sugar. It is advisable if you don’t consume dark chocolate with milk or milk products as they will reduce the absorption of the healthy flavanols!
