Did you know your arteries and vessels expand every time you climb a flight of stairs, go for a run or grab a workout? And did you know cocoa flavanols increase your artery flexibility to support the delivery of incremental oxygen and nutrients during physical exertion?
OK, lets unpack this a bit further. The process whereby your arteries expand is called vasodilation. And vasodilation is super important during exercise for the following reasons:
- Increases the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to working muscles
- Raises the lactic acid production threshold
- Helps clear toxic metabolites from the circulatory system
- Supports muscle fibers with the oxygen and nutrients to repair efficiently
Cocoa flavanols (900mg daily) have been shown to increase artery flexibility by over 25% across multiple studies. They have a near-term impact that peaks two hours after consumption and a longer-term effect that builds with daily consumption over the course of two to three weeks.
Can you think of a more enjoyable way to support your cardiovascular fitness and exercise routine?