Can chocolate really be used to better our workouts? Dark chocolate has been recognized as a tool to enhance our energy levels when working out. All chocolate lovers will be relieved to know that consuming chocolate can indeed enhance their performance and the quality of their work out. We are now able to indulge free of regret and full of energy.
How does this all work? Well, Dark chocolate contains a nutrient that is called epicatechin. This nutrient found in the cocoa plant prompts’ cells in the blood vessels which let out nitric oxide.
According to “Chocolate Can Boost Your Workout. Really.” an article by New York Times’ Gretchen Reynold states “Nitric oxide slightly increases vasodilation, or a widening of the veins and arteries, improving blood flow and cardiac function. It also gooses muscle cells to take in more blood sugar, providing them with more energy.” Therefore, allowing us to properly execute our exercises with sufficient energy.
Now with this knowledge in mind, we would be able to reach our physical goals at a quicker rate. What would our athletes and school teams look like if they would consume dark chocolate regularly? Could it be that the performance of our favorite baseball teams and football teams change entirely?
Looking at dark chocolate on a smaller scale, we could probably achieve our diet goals quicker if we were consuming dark chocolate regularly. However, how much is too much? Would we abuse this knowledge by consuming more than our bodies could burn?