Running Performance Improves Thanks to an Easy Homemade Drink
- Oct 31, 2025
- 1 min read
A new study has found that a tasty, easy-to-find, and easy-to-make drink could be one of the best sports beverages for runners.
Researchers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU – Singapore) discovered that a cup of low-sugar cocoa or dark chocolate can help improve performance in nearly all types of exercise, from sprinting to endurance training.
Published in the journal Nutrients, the study revealed that consuming dark chocolate containing at least 70% pure cocoa can enhance endurance exercise performance.
This is because cocoa contains beneficial compounds such as catechin, epicatechin, theobromine, and procyanidin, which help reduce both physical and mental fatigue while improving executive brain function.
A cup of rich cocoa with little milk or sugar can be a simple yet effective choice for those who want to have a productive running session or workout day.
Beyond endurance training, the researchers also tested its effects on anaerobic exercises—activities where the body breaks down glucose without oxygen to produce short bursts of intense energy.
Examples include sprinting, heavy weightlifting, or explosive movements that leave you breathing hard within seconds or minutes.
The results showed that the bioactive compounds in cocoa also work effectively in these anaerobic exercises, helping reduce exhaustion and boost overall performance.
In short, a daily cup of cocoa or dark chocolate—easy to prepare and inexpensive—can naturally enhance stamina, support fat burning, and improve running performance in a healthy, enjoyable way.
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