Can You Enjoy Tasty Food and Build a Great Physique? The Surprising Role of Dark Chocolate

When it comes to building a great physique, most people immediately think of supplements, steroids, and endless hours of pumping iron. However, the truth is that bodybuilding is primarily about nourishing your body and giving it the raw materials it needs to build lean muscle mass. And yes, it is possible to enjoy tasty food while doing so – if you choose the right things to eat.

At the forefront of these foods is dark chocolate – and there’s actual science behind this statement. Chocolate, as we all know, is one of the most delicious foods out there. It’s decadent, satisfying, and can lift your mood and make you feel happier. But apart from the obvious pleasure it brings, chocolate also has numerous health benefits, particularly when it comes to building a better physique.

So where do these health benefits come from, exactly? It’s all thanks to the cacao flavonoids found in dark chocolate. These are the main active compounds that make it a healthful food. However, they can only be found in sufficient quantities in dark chocolate or cacao extracts, with dark chocolate containing at least 70% cacao being the ideal. Avoid milk chocolate and opt for organic, non-alkalized dark chocolate for the best results.

Flavonoids are potent antioxidants with numerous benefits, particularly for the cardiovascular system. The cacao flavonoids help increase nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow through and reaching all tissues while keeping blood pressure within normal range. This effect is particularly beneficial to muscle tissues, which receive more nutrients and oxygen to build more lean muscle.

Good blood flow also helps improve muscle recovery and endurance, allowing for less muscle soreness after high-intensity exercise and shorter recovery periods. This is crucial since prolonged recovery periods can lead to breakdown processes that counteract any gains made during exercise.

One crucial type of flavonol in dark chocolate is epicatechin, which acts as a myostatin inhibitor. Myostatin is a protein that controls muscle growth and development and is essential in preventing hypertrophy (abnormal muscle growth). Epicatechin inhibits myostatin just enough to let muscles grow faster and with greater volume, making it act as an anabolic compound. Additionally, it stimulates follistatin, which further promotes muscle growth, leading to epicatechin’s anabolic effect.

Apart from these muscle-building benefits, dark chocolate has a long list of other health advantages that go beyond bodybuilding. Eating at least 50 grams of dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao content daily can lead to better mood and improved sex life. Dark chocolate promotes better blood flow to reproductive organs and increases testosterone production, which can improve libido, increase stamina, and promote stronger, fuller erections. It also boosts blood flow to the brain, leading to healthier brain cells and a better balance of neurotransmitters, which can translate to better mood and an overall anti-depressant effect.

In conclusion, the benefits of consuming dark chocolate are substantial, and science is only starting to uncover what this seemingly magical cacao bean is all about. If you find it hard to incorporate healthy habits, dark chocolate might be the easy solution since it tastes amazing and is good for you. So why not indulge in a bit of dark chocolate guilt-free, knowing that it’s helping you build a great physique, enhance your mood, and boost your sex life?