Dark Chocolate 'As Good As Exercise'

Source

Scientists from Wayne State University have discovered that a compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, seems to trigger the same muscle response as vigorous activity such as jogging.

Additionally, when small doses of chocolate are consumed in combination with regular exercise, performance is increased by 50 percent, the study found.

The researchers found that epicatechin seemed to increase the number of mitochondria, tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy.

"Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy is produced the more work can be performed," study leader Dr. Moh Malek at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, told the UK Telegraph.

Well, screw the exercise, I'm going to eat some chocolate.

The wife is going to love this, go for a walk with some chocolate.

I have heard that dark chocolate is a superfood so this is perhaps why. The fact that eating something that has such a bad 'karma' around it can actually be good for you is interesting as chocolate has been in culture for many thousands of years. Maybe they knew this way before we did, and maybe thats why they were in better shape than us.

Any thoughts?

Pred...

Hmmm... worth researching. If the 50% increase is true, I would be all for consuming small amounts. Is dark chocolate available without sugar or artificial sweeteners?

Dark chocolate has bad "karma" associated with it?

Please explain, I don't understand the analogy.

Originally posted by LadySkadi
Dark chocolate has bad "karma" associated with it?

Please explain, I don't understand the analogy.

He may be referring to the Aztecs, but that is only a guess.

I think he means the stigma that chocolate has as a junk food. That said, I wouldn't consider snickers and reeses a good source of energy, rather I would eat some organic dark chocolate.

Dark Chocolate (chocolate with 70% or more of cocoa) is full of anti-oxidants and has other health benefits. It also releases the hormone that makes you feel good. A few squares a day would do more good than harm, but don't use this as an excuse to eat a lot of it. A healthy diet is crucial for there to even be a noticed benefit in the first place.
I for one have added it into my diet, I don't have it everyday but I have some with tea, as a snack or desert.

edit: though I wouldn't go as far to say that it is as good as exercise.

I'm very interested to read this! I just started taking a surprisingly effective diet pill that has dark chocolate as one of the ingredients. It sounded like one of those ingredients that didn't really do anything and was there because it sounds healthy, but maybe it does more than I gave it credit for. Now I know one possible reason why it is working so well!

GeorgiaGirl - What diet pill is that? I'd be curious.

One thing to consider, I know the health food store has sold dark chocolate - which to me tasted a bit different than even dark chocolate from Hershey...so there may be a difference between Health Food Store quality and ingredients vs store bought dark chocolate bar? Just a thought

reply to post by summer5


Probably a lot less sugar.

reply to post by LadySkadi


Well, not necessarily dark chocolate, but as a previous poster mentioned chocolate has a junk food stigma around it. That's all I was saying.

Pred...

reply to post by summer5


Well organic dark chocolate has no added sugar, so it has a bitter taste to it as it is just the cocao bean ground down. I don't mind the taste though, but I'm not a big 'sweet tooth'.

Pred...

reply to post by predator0187

Ahh. Thank. I thought I was missing some sort of philosophical or cultural reference.

As to the benefits of dark chocolate, I do think it has some health benefits as well as emotional or uplifting mood benefit, though as always too much of a good thing, may not be...

Even athletes on juice have to hit the gym twice as hard, So I pretty much doubt Chocolate will do much.

reply to post by sonofliberty1776


Cortez claimed that Monteczuma II used to drink 60 cups of dark chocolate a day - quite an addict apparently. But...well, looked how THAT turned out...!!!!

reply to post by predator0187


Thanks for posting this up I like to mix up a bowl with dark chocolate and cashews and a little natural beef jerky for breakfast and it's awesome. Some people might think the chocolate wouldn't work well with the jerky and they would be wrong.

reply to post by Silverado292


That sounds good. I love all three ingredients so I would imagine them together would be great. I'm going to go try that. Thanks for the idea.

Pred...

reply to post by LadySkadi


In africa they enslave the cocoa workers

reply to post by inforeal


They do worse with diamond workers. And you have to remember not all cocao beans come from Africa.

Pred...

reply to post by predator0187




I heard from a Dr friend of mine [Dr of Internal medicine] a few years back that Dark Chocolate was good for you. All that aside I just prefer the taste. A few years ago I started eating nothing but Dark Chocolate and have never looked back as a matter of fact the other day I almost gagged on a piece of Milk Chocolate.

I was expecting Dark [didn't look at the little package close enough when a friend offered me some] Strange how that works. When your mind is expecting one thing and you taste another.

reply to post by predator0187


Not a problem, not to confuse things I don't put the jerky in the bowl but off to the side. Hope you enjoy!