5 Science-Backed Ways Dark Chocolate Can Boost Your Workout
Here’s how to get the most out of your favorite treat.
Want a treat that treats you back—and can help you make the most out of your workout? Look no further than dark chocolate. Yep, really: Science is in your corner on this one.
Chocolate has two properties that make it good for your workout—carbs and antioxidants, says Natalie Rizzo, R.D., author of The No-Brainer Nutrition Guide For Every Runner.
Any type of chocolate—white, milk, or dark—has a good amount of carbs, due to its sugar content. But you don’t need to go overboard with the added sugar. So the darker the chocolate is, the better choice it’ll be, since it contains fewer grams of sugar. (About half of a dark chocolate bar with 85 percent cocoa has about 15 grams of carbs and 230 calories, Rizzo says.) Plus, darker chocolate has more antioxidants than milk chocolate, too.
But it’s not just about hitting the vending machine for a king-size bar before your run and hoping for the best. Read on to find out how chocolate can boost your workout—and how you can fuel up the right way.
[Let Runcoach unleash your full potential with personalized training, expert coaching, and proven results.]
Watch Next
What Fruit is In Season Now?
Should You Eat Before or After a Run?
Signs of Vitamin D Deficiency
The Best Energy-Dense Foods for Runners