Chocolate and Sports Affair

If you are one of those active people who love playing sports, then chocolate is probably one of your favourite foods. Chocolate is one of the few treats that are universally loved and craved for by people worldwide. Its taste, smell, and texture are simply irresistible, giving people a pleasurable experience when eating one. Some even go far, probably in exaggeration, to say that they are simply addicted to chocolate.

Now, you might be wondering why chocolate is such as a wonderful food and what role it plays in your sports diet. To answer your questions, let us explore the effects of eating chocolate on human health.

If you always feel guilty after sneaking a bar of chocolate, forget the bad feeling because eating this treat in moderation will not clog the arteries in your heart. It is not as bad for your health as what you may believe because chocolate contains anti-oxidants and good cholesterol. Considering the nutritional guideline that says 10% of daily calories can come from sugar and 25% from fats, it is safe for athletes and active people to consume about 200-300 calories from chocolate in a day. This can equate to one big candy bar without the guilt.

And with regards to playing sports, the belief that eating chocolate before exercise can crash performance is basically unfounded. In fact, consuming one bar an hour prior a game can actually help enhance performance by about 20%. This is because the healthy amount of caffeine and sugar that chocolate contains provide an "energy burst" effect, which feeds the body's screaming need for quick energy.