{"id":9546,"date":"2017-02-02T17:39:55","date_gmt":"2017-02-03T01:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/?p=9546"},"modified":"2025-05-24T15:56:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T22:56:31","slug":"run-faster-jump-higher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chocolatebythebay.com\/magazine\/outsidechocolate\/chocolateroundtheworld\/run-faster-jump-higher\/","title":{"rendered":"Run faster, jump higher"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are so many studies on the beneficial effects of chocolate, I can\u2019t keep up. And so many products that claim they provide these beneficial effects, I can’t try them all. Some stories I dismiss quickly, others I wish were true (chocolate cough syrup<\/a> sure sounds tastier than traditional cough syrup), and some\u00a0look like they might actually show\u00a0real health benefits from eating my favorite food. Here are 2 of my current favorite chocolate-health \u2014 or Vitamin Ch \u2014 stories, taken with a grain of salt:<\/p>\n

Dark chocolate improves athletic performance<\/h2>\n

A study was done\u00a0in 2016 to see if chocolate would enhance athletic performance like beet juice apparently does. Both increase the production of nitric oxide in the body, which reduces oxygen consumption and helps athletes maintain their pace longer.<\/p>\n

Postgrad\u00a0research student Rishikesh Kankesh Patel, from Kingston University in London, UK, came up with the idea for the study, and along with\u00a0sports science field leader Dr. Owen Spendiff and senior lecturer in sports analysis James Brouner, tested 9 amateur cyclists\u2019 response to daily chocolate snacks.<\/p>\n

Tests showed that after eating dark chocolate for 2 weeks, the riders\u00a0used less oxygen when cycling at a moderate pace, and were able to cycle farther in flat-out time trials. Rishikesh is now studying dark chocolate\u00a0further in his doctoral thesis to determine optimal levels of flavanols in it for boosting athletic performance and endurance.<\/p>\n

James, who is an ultra-distance runner, said that their research suggests dark chocolate could be beneficial to endurance athletes in the same way beet juice is, but with a better taste. And, I may add, easier to clean up if spilled on clothes.<\/p>\n

I especially like that the test didn\u2019t require consuming chocolate before exercising. Instead, the\u00a0participants\u00a0ate it daily to see the benefits. Instead of \u2018an apple a day keeps the doctor away,\u2019 we might start saying \u2018a chocolate a day keeps us exercising away.\u2019<\/p>\n

Chocolate formulated to relieve monthly misery<\/h2>\n
\"Frauenmond\"
Frauenmond bars promise to make you feel over the moon. (Image: Chocolate With Love)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a member of the half of the world\u2019s population that has suffered through the monthly reminder of her gender, the idea that there\u2019s a chocolate formulated to relieve menstrual symptoms sounds like a gangbuster idea. A Swiss chocolatier got the idea after seeing his former partner suffer strong abdominal pain every cycle.<\/p>\n

It took Marc Widmer 3 years to formulate the 60% chocolate\u2019s 17-herb combination in his Frauenmond<\/em> (women\u2019s moon) bar. He worked with an aroma- and phytotherapist to get the optimal mixture to relieve PMS.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure where you can buy Frauenmond bars. Articles about them state they cost $12-$13 for a good-sized 100-gram bar, making them a premium chocolate bar. But the bars are not for sale on Marc\u2019s website, Chocolate with Love<\/a>, and there is no list of retailers.<\/p>\n

I also couldn\u2019t find any studies done to prove his concept. On his website, there is an article in which 3 women and 1 man were asked their opinions on it. I got to use my rusty German skills to decipher their comments. Basically, they were unimpressed.<\/p>\n

The women said it tasted very good, but didn\u2019t think it did anything special for them. In the end, \u2018it\u2019s just entirely normal chocolate (ganz normale Schokolade),\u2019<\/em> according to one of them. And the guy said it didn\u2019t do anything for him, but he would be happy if there really was a chocolate that calms women down.<\/p>\n

I bet he got some side-eye for that comment.<\/p>\n

More Vitamin Ch articles on CBTB<\/h3>\n