Dark Chocolate Improves Walking for Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

Dark chocolate improves walking with PAD

A small study performed on patients with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) found another reason to eat dark chocolate - improved walking.

PAD is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs, often causing leg pain with walking. PAD is similar to atherosclerosis that affects the heart and can be a sign that blood flow is reduced to your heart and brain as well.

Those eating dark chocolate could walk farther and longer

In the study, researchers compared two groups, those eating 40 grams of dark chocolate (>85% cocoa) and those eating 40 grams of milk chocolate (<35% cocoa). Those eating dark chocolate experienced a significant improvement in their ability to walk within two hours of eating. The patients could walk further and walk for a longer period of time. There was no change for the group eating milk chocolate.

While a larger study should be performed to confirm the results, this research provides further support on the benefits of eating dark chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the better. Milk chocolate has too much added sugar and processed oils to be beneficial, so choose dark chocolate.

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