Walk better with dark chocolate

If you suffer from peripheral artery disease, you may be able to get relief from a surprisingly sweet source: dark chocolate. Find out how from Kevin Soden, MD in this HelathSmarts.

Transcript

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[MUSIC PLAYING] Do you know that one in five adults over the age of 70

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has peripheral arterial disease. Hi. I'm Dr. Soden. Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD,

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is a condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries. It commonly occurs in the legs, making it difficult and painful

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to walk. While a small study hints at some sweet relief for PAD, nibbling dark chocolate may help improve circulation

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and make it easier to walk. In the study, volunteers who ate 40 grams of dark chocolate-- that's about an ounce and a half--

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improved their walking time and distance in treadmill tests. Milk chocolate didn't deliver the same benefits.

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Researchers believe that polyphenols in dark chocolate are responsible for the improvement. So if you have a sweet tooth, make a little dark chocolate

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your treat of choice. And for the most benefit, look for chocolate that's at least 85% cacao.

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It's a sweet way to nourish your healthy circulation. I'm Dr. Soden. For more ways to boost your health,

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watch all our smart tips. [MUSIC PLAYING]