Dark secret: Chocolate is as good as exercise

NO MORE HOLDING BACK

Stimulates Same Muscle Response As Gym Session

London: It is the news that chocoholics have been waiting for: Chocolate is as good as exercise, a new study has claimed. Scientists at Wayne State University in the US found that small amounts of dark chocolate may improve health in a similar way to exercise. 
    The researchers who focused on the mitochondria — the tiny powerhouses in cells that generate energy — discovered that a plant compound found in chocolate, called epicatechin, appeared to stimulate the same muscle response as vigorous activity, the Daily Telegraph reported. 
    "Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy," said Dr Moh Malek, who led the research on mice. "Aerobic exercise is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells," Malek said. 
    "Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response." 
    For their study the researchers gave a specific type of epicatechin from cocoa to the laboratory mice twice a day for 15 days. At the same time, the animals underwent 30 minutes of treadmill training each day. It was found that mice only fed epicatechin had the same exercise performance as those running on the treadmill. PTI 
Warning for night owls: Want to be happy, slim and healthy? Become an early riser 
    Early to bed, early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise," Benjamin Franklin famously said some 300 years ago. Now, scientists have confirmed it. Researchers at the Roehampton University in the UK found claimed that early risers are slimmer, happier and healthier than those who get up later in the day. Worst off are night owls, the researchers said, as late nights appear to be taking their toll on health and happiness, the Daily Mail reported. For their study, the researchers quizzed almost 1,100 men and women about their health and sleeping habits. Some 13% of those questioned were larks, getting up before 7am during the week and seeing no need for a lie-in at the weekend. Night owls, who fall out of bed just before 9am Monday to Friday and sleep in on Saturdays and Sundays, accounted for another 6 %. The remaining 81% fell somewhere in between. The analysis revealed the early risers to have fewest signs of depression and anxiety. PTI