輕鬆美味健身:吃黑巧克力可替代跑步?

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。

Dr Moh Malek, from Wayne State University in Detroit, who led the US study on mice, said: "Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy is produced. "

"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，"he said。

A specific type of epicatechin from cocoa was given to mice twice a day for 15 days. At the same time, other animals underwent 30 minutes of treadmill training each day。

Researchers found that mice only fed epicatechin had the same exercise performance as those running on the treadmill。

The scientists hope their research will lead to better ways of combating age-related muscle wasting。

"The number of mitochondria decreases in skeletal muscle as we age, and this affects us physically in terms of both muscle energy production and endurance," said Dr Malek. "Applying what we know about epicatechin's ability may provide an approach to reduce the effects of muscle ageing."

"It appears epicatechin treatment combined with exercised could be a viable means to offset muscle ageing," said Dr Malek。

The findings were published in the Journal of Physiology。據英國《每日電訊報》9月15日報道，科學家發現，吃少量黑巧克力能起到相當於鍛鍊的功效，改善身體狀況。

研究人員對細胞內產生能量的微小“發電站”——線粒體進行了集中研究。人在進行劇烈運動時，身體中的肌肉也出現一些反應，研究人員發現巧克力中一種名爲表兒茶素的植物化合物似乎也能促使肌肉發生類似的反應。

美國底特律州立韋恩大學的莫•馬利克博士領導了在美國進行的小鼠實驗，他說：“線粒體產生的能量供應着身體內的細胞，更多的線粒體越多意味着能產生更多的能量也更多。”

他說：“衆所周知，有氧運動，例如跑步或騎車，可以增加細胞內線粒體的數量。我們的研究發現，表兒茶素似乎能引起相同的反應，尤其在心臟和骨骼肌中。”

在15天中，研究人員每天給小鼠喂兩次從可可粉中提煉出的特定類型的表兒茶素。同時，另外一些老鼠每天在跑步機上“鍛鍊”30分鐘。

研究人員發現，那些只吃表兒茶素的老鼠與在跑步機上進行鍛鍊的老鼠得到了同樣的運動效果。

科學家希望他們的研究能夠給解決對抗老年性肌肉損耗帶來更有效的辦法。

馬利克博士說：“隨着年齡增長，骨骼肌中的線粒體數目也會減少，這對人體肌肉能量的生產和耐力都有影響。如果利用這種我們所知道的表兒茶素的功能，我們就可以得到一種降低肌肉老化影響的方法。”

馬利克博士說：“表兒茶素療法與鍛鍊相結合可能是抵消肌肉老化的可行辦法。”

該發現發表在《生理學雜誌》期刊上。