Eating small amounts of dark chocolate improved health in a similar way to exercise, according to a recent U.S. study published in the Journal of Physiology.
Dark chocolate contains a plant compound, epicatechin, which stimulates the same muscle response as vigorous activity.Researchers focused on tiny ‘batteries’ in cells that generate energy, known as mitochondria.
"Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body,” said lead author Dr. Moh Malek at Wayne State University. “More mitochondria mean more energy is produced, the more work can be performed.”
"Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response – particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles.”
The researchers experimented with three groups of middle-aged mice. One was given a specific type of epicatechin from cocoa twice a day for 15 days, another had epicatechin and 30 minutes on the treadmill every day. A third group did the exercise but without taking the extract.
Those mice fed epicatechin extract had more energy and when put on a treadmill, performed as well as mice that had been training regularly.
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