Why Dark Chocolate Can Improve Performance When Exercising

Contents:

Medical Video: How to LOSE WEIGHT with CHOCOLATE [Best Dark Chocolate Benefits]

The Mayo Clinic has indeed suggested that dark chocolate has a positive effect on heart health. The flavanol content in cocoa beans contains antioxidants which can reduce cell damage resulting in heart disease. This content can also lower blood pressure and improve vascular function. However, the Mayo Clinic also reminded that not all the benefits of chocolate have been confirmed.

Chocolate can be consumed in moderation, because chocolate can also bring other health problems due to the fat and sugar contained in it. Recently, further research shows that dark chocolate can also help athletes or sports lovers improve their endurance performance.

The study, led by Rishikesh Kankesh Patel of Kingston University in London, England, found that dark chocolate It provides uses similar to beetroot juice. Today, beet juice is often consumed by athletes because it is proven to be rich in nitrate, which will be converted into nitric oxide in the body. This promotes blood circulation and reduces oxygen consumption, which causes athletes to last longer. Researchers want to prove whether the same thing can also occur due to consumption dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains epicatechin, a type of flavanols in chocolate beans, which can also increase the production of nitric oxide in the body.

How is this theory proven?

To test this theory, Patel conducted an experiment involving 9 amateur bicycle athletes. Patel is led by sports science leader Dr. Owen Spendiff and senior lecturer in sports analysis James Brouner.

After passing the fitness test to determine the standard comparison, the experimental participants were divided into 2 groups. The first group was asked to replace one of their regular snacks with 40 grams dark chocolate who have been known to be rich in flavanols for two weeks. The second group was asked to replace one of their regular snacks with 40 grams white chocolate also for two weeks.

Effects of consumption dark chocolate this was measured by a cycling exercise test in the sports performance laboratory on the University of Penrhyn Road campus. The heart rate and the level of oxygen consumption of the bicycle athletes are measured during the course of the exercise. After 7 days, the two groups replaced the type of chocolate eaten (group one ate white chocolate and group two eats dark chocolate) For 2 weeks and again do the cycling exercise test again afterwards.

Dark chocolate proven to improve the performance of athletes

Patel found that athletes can practice effectively longer after eating dark chocolate. The research, which was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, showed that after consuming it dark chocolate, cyclists consume less oxygen during cycling at moderate speeds and can also cycle at 2 minutes faster.

Patel stated that this discovery opened the door for researchers to conduct research until finally possible dark chocolate become one of the main foods in the diet of athletes to increase their endurance. Patel argues that this can occur due to the content of deep nitric oxide dark chocolate, which also has beetroot juice. For further research, Patel hopes to find out the optimal amount of flavanols inside dark chocolate to increase the athlete's performance.

Until now, the concentration of flavanols in dark chocolate commercially available varies greatly. Patel also wants to see whether this effect is only the effect of consuming chocolate for a short period of time (like you eat chocolate as a regular snack, 1 bar a day) or athletes have to consume chocolate for a long time (as done in this experiment). After finding the right dosage and time of consumption, Petal plans to compare the effects of chocolate consumption with the consumption of beet juice, and what if the two drinks are combined.

James Brouner, senior lecturer in sports analysis who is also a runner ultra-marathon say that discovery about dark chocolate this can be beneficial for the endurance of athletes. Brouner said that it is very important for athletes to manage their endurance as efficiently as possible. Brouner also added that many athletes consumed beet juice to increase their immune system, but most athletes did not like the taste of beet juice.

Profit from dark chocolate in addition to increasing endurance, it feels good. Brouner also said that when doing activities that are highly dependent on endurance, the key to improving performance is to be as economical as possible in completing the energy needed. From the results of this study, consumption of dark chocolate changed the response of the experimental participants to the activity, which therefore could also improve the performance of the athletes' endurance.

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Why Dark Chocolate Can Improve Performance When Exercising
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