Compound in chocolate found to potentially improve workouts

While most people avoid sweets while trying to get ripped, chocolate has recently been shown to potentially boost a workout routine.

The Independent reports that a compound found in chocolate called epicatechin has been shown to have a positive effect on exercising mice. Rodents with the compound added to their diet performed much better during physical activity than those who did not.

The news provider also mentioned that chocolate milk has been shown to potentially be a great post-workout drink, as it can increase oxygen uptake.

The text of the study, found on the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information explains the benefits the compound was found to have on muscles.

"These findings indicate that epicatechin alone or in combination with exercise induces an integrated response that includes structural and metabolic changes in skeletal and cardiac muscles resulting in greater endurance capacity," state the report.

Basically, that's saying that adding epicatechin to a workout diet can potentially help increase muscle endurance. In case anyone needed more reasons to eat chocolate, there it is.