Can dark chocolate help boost your fitness? 

January is HERE, and you know what that means. It’s time to set those New Year’s Resolutions.

The problem? Very, very few of us keep them. In fact, a recent study showed that most people only made it 12 days into the new year before breaking their resolution.

Look, none of us are perfect. And failing is part of learning! What really matters is staying the course. And that requires setting up some support for yourself. Get an accountability buddy. Break your goals up into small, bite-sized pieces. And, if you’re trying to improve your fitness in 2021, eat more chocolate.

No, really. As long as you choose a low-sugar dark chocolate (like ours), adding dark chocolate to your diet can help you make progress toward your fitness goals next year. 

Don’t believe us and the top trainers who recommend it? Here’s the proof.

The Science-Backed Fitness Benefits of Dark Chocolate

• Reduce inflammation: Increased physical activity does your body major favors long-term. But when you’re first getting started, especially if you’re just getting up off the couch, you risk injury from doing too much too fast. Specifically, overly strenuous exercise can cause inflammation in your body. 
  
  Fortunately, dark chocolate gives you a way to directly combat that. In fact, it’s one of the most anti-inflammatory foods out there. That’s thanks to the fact that dark chocolate contains a ton of antioxidants, which fight inflammation by reducing free radicals in your body. Basically, if you want a way to make sure inflammation doesn’t stand between you and your fitness goals, you can turn to dark chocolate. 

• Improve circulation: When you’re working on your fitness, blood flow is critical. Without it, you face cramping — and even the potential for trouble moving in general.
  
  With dark chocolate, you introduce polyphenols into your body. This, in turn, can help your system make nitric oxide, which helps your blood vessels dilate. This basically gives your blood a bigger channel through which to flow, improving your circulation whether you’re working out or taking a breather. 

• Increase motivation: Dark chocolate contains serotonin, the neurotransmitter that many call the happy chemical. Basically, serotonin helps to regulate your mood, fending off depressive symptoms. And you probably already know that the happier you feel, the easier it is to lace up your sneakers. With ample serotonin, you’re more likely to overcome the temptation to stay sedentary. Long story short, eating dark chocolate can give you a motivation boost.
  
  
• Boost your VO2 max: Your VO2 max essentially measures how efficiently you use oxygen. When you’re getting started with your fitness goals, this can mean the difference between feeling winded right away and sticking with your original workout plan. Studies show that regularly consuming amounts of high-quality dark chocolate can improve your VO2 max. 

Dark chocolate has a whole bunch of health benefits. And if you’re planning to improve your fitness levels in 2021, it can be a great way to support yourself. Just make sure you’re choosing a dark chocolate (at least 60% cacao) with minimal sugar.