The chocolate workout

September 20, 2011

 

Don’t feel like working out? Have some chocolate instead, you’ll get similar benefits!

Ok, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated. But new research from Wayne State University has found that epicatechin (a plant compound found in chocolate) stimulates similar muscle response — increasing the number of mitochondria in muscle cells — as vigorous activity does in a study conducted on mice.

(the mice were tested by running on a treadmill for 30 minutes — I wonder if they get as bored on the treadmill as I do…)

Filed under: Diet,Fitness Swellness,Healthy Swellness

Tags: chocolate, exercise, fitness, mice, mitochondria, physical activity