Those who regularly consume dark chocolate may enjoy improved walking ability, according to a new study from researchers at Sapienza University in Rome. For the study the researchers examined a group of 20 older adults between the ages of 68 and 70.
Each of the adults suffered from peripheral artery disease, in which narrow arteries constrict blood flow to the limbs. Half of the adults added dark chocolate to their diets daily, while the other half consumed milk chocolate. They found that those who ate dark chocolate walked 11 percent further and 15 percent longer than those eating milk chocolate.
"Our body secretes chemicals that naturally dilate blood vessels in response to certain stimuli, improving the blood flow to certain areas," the researchers explained. "Some of the chemicals inside dark chocolate could affect the way these enzymes are metabolized in the body."
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