Chocolate 'as good for you as exercise'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ ^ | Thursday 15 September 2011 | telegraph.co.uk

[Para-Ord.45]

Scientists found that small amounts of dark chocolate may improve health in a similar way to exercise.

The researchers focused on the mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy, and discovered that a plant compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, appeared to stimulate the same muscle response as vigorous activity.

''Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response - particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles.''

[Billthedrill]

Well, of course. Exercise can kill you. Has anyone ever died of chocolate?

[Signalman]

The important thing is to eat dark chocolate, not milk chocolate. Milk chocolate is...cr*p.

[TASMANIANRED]

Be still my heart.

[Tribune7]

I will be so bold as to say you are even better off eating 2 Hershey bars!! :-)

[I Drive Too Fast]

Which burns more calories...Nestle or Hersheys?

Not sure about that, but one way to increase the calories burned is to try taking chocolate away from a fat person. That will burn a lot of calories.

[LibLieSlayer]

Dove.

LLS

[1forall]

High numbers of midichlorian a jedi make, young padawan. Not mitochondria. /yoda voice

[metesky]

I didn’t see the RDA anywhere...

[1forall]

Seems like the Maya got another thing right.

[Sapper26]

The chocolate/Jedi connection is still worth investigating. Maybe I can get a government grant. Not much $25 million or so.

[conservaterian]

Finally, a scientific study I can stick my teeth into.

[SIDENET]

If you weigh 140 pounds and spent the last week living on 200 calories a day,

I weigh 140, but I sure eat a lot more than 200 calories per day.

[Chickensoup]

I think I am doing this all wrong!

[Revolting cat!]

Try Droste's cocao dissolved in the chicken soup.

[LucyT]

Chocolate 'as good for you as exercise' Yes! Really!

[Fantasywriter]

Lucy—thanks for the ping! This is the news I’ve been waiting for. ;)

Diana, I hope you don’t miss this thread. Anybody in need of an excuse just got a very good one.

[thecodont]

It's the medicine that grows on trees!

[Smokin' Joe]

Not sure about that, but one way to increase the calories burned is to try taking chocolate away from a fat person. That will burn a lot of calories.

Yabbut, their blood pressure goes waaay up, too.

[Brown Deer]

Eat your peas!

[Vor Lady]

Don’t settle for cheap chocolate. Go for Godiva, it’s truly yummy.