Walking in a long time would make your feet sore. Plus, if the system of blood circulation in the legs already began to fail, then walk a little bit will have an impact at all on the onset of soreness. Well, for those of you who experienced this, dark chocolate might be the solution.
In a small-scale study from Italy, researchers found that the antioxidants in dark chocolate can help people who suffer from decreased blood flow to the legs. The study found that people with the disorder in his leg arteries can walk a little longer after eating dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidant compounds called polyphenols. Researchers believe that polyphenols can increase blood flow to the legs with mmempengaruhi biochemistry that makes the arteries dilate.
"The body secretes chemicals that are natual will open up the blood vessels in response to certain stimuli. Several compounds in dark chocolate may provide the stimulus," said Richard Chazal, vice president of the American College of Cardiology.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that involved 20 people aged 60-78 years who were diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease. The disease makes them narrowed arteries making it more difficult to carry blood from the legs, abdomen, arms, and head back to the heart. Reduction of blood flow can cause pain, cramping, and stiffness in the legs and hips when walking.
In the study, participants were asked to walk on a treadmill twice. First before eating the chocolate, and the second after eating chocolate.
The result, after eating the chocolate, participants walked an average of 11 percent farther and 15 percent longer than before. Chocolate is dark chocolate affect the levels of 85 percent cocoa polyphenol rich. While this impact is not felt if eaten too is milk chocolate with cocoa content of 30 percent.