A recent study has found that inhaling the scent of dark chocolate before and during resistance training may enhance athletic performance and reduce food cravings.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology, showed that the aroma of dark chocolate, rich in cocoa, not only promotes satiety and reduces the desire to eat, but may also help increase the number of repetitions performed by the trainee during resistance exercises.
Lead researcher Dr. Mohamed Nasruddin bin Naharuddin, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Malaya, said that participants who were exposed to the scent of dark chocolate before and during their exercise were able to significantly increase their training volume, even though they did not feel like they were exerting more effort.
He added that the participants were able to perform a greater number of repetitions without an increase in the level of effort they felt, which is a remarkable result from a psychological and physiological point of view.
The study included 23 healthy men of average fitness, aged between their early and mid-twenties. Researchers divided the participants into three groups, each exposed to a different aroma: dark chocolate containing 90% cocoa, milk chocolate containing 60% cocoa, or water as a control.
Participants were asked to abstain from eating for at least ten hours before performing leg extension exercises, a resistance exercise that targets the thigh muscles. Researchers also measured participants' performance, along with their hunger, satiety, and appetite levels before and during the exercise.
The results showed that the smell of dark chocolate reduced feelings of hunger and cravings, and increased feelings of satiety before exercise, compared to the smell of milk chocolate or water.
Participants who were exposed to the scent of milk chocolate described the smell as more pleasant, but it did not produce a clear change in their hunger or appetite levels.
The scent's effect wasn't limited to appetite; it also impacted physical performance. Participants who inhaled the aroma of dark chocolate were able to perform approximately 18 more repetitions of the leg extension exercise compared to the control group, while the milk chocolate group achieved an increase of about nine repetitions.
Researchers believe these findings stem from the association of food aromas with past memories and experiences in the brain. The aroma can give the body a premonition of satiety, even without food being consumed. It may also trigger psychological and physiological responses similar to those that occur when eating, which explains the improved performance observed in some participants.
The researchers noted that the study is still preliminary, as it did not include measurements of the hormones or neural activity responsible for these effects. Furthermore, the number of participants was limited, necessitating larger studies involving different groups to confirm the findings.
The researchers concluded by noting that chocolate may not be the only food that achieves this effect; the aromas of other foods associated with satiety or pleasure are likely to produce similar results, if they are familiar and pleasant.
