Dark Chocolate Proven To Improve Walking Ability

Dark Chocolate Proven To Improve Walking Ability

Dark chocolate has long been thought of as a healthy diet choice. Among antioxidants and a series of other vitamins and minerals, new research has shown that dark chocolate can also improve walking ability.

Researchers from Italy found while studying the effects of dark chocolate’s antioxidants on a small group of people that it can actually improve blood circulation to the legs, leading to a better walking ability.

Doctor Lorenzo Loffredo from the Sapienza University in Rome was the lead author of the study which consisted of 20 participants that were aged 60 to 78. All of them suffered from peripheral artery disease which is a condition that narrows arteries affecting blood circulation towards the brain, legs and hands. Poor circulation is known to have side effects like soreness and pain in the legs and other affected muscle groups.

The researchers at Sapienza University chose to administer dark chocolate to patients as a way to relieve pain and increase their walking ability and blood flow. They looked for the effects of dark chocolate which is known to contain polyphenols and milk chocolate.

The participants were split into two groups. Each group ate 40 grams of chocolate, one of them dark and the other milk chocolate. They were then asked to walk on a treadmill each morning and again after they ate the chocolate. The results showed that participants who ate dark chocolate were able to walk 11 percent further and 15 percent longer than their counterparts.

Posted by George Daniels on Saturday July 05 2014, 3:32 PM EST. Ref: counselheal. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0