Researchers have found that the scent of dark chocolate can enhance strength training results while also reducing feelings of hunger. These findings are published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology.
A total of 23 healthy men aged 20 to 25 years with moderate physical fitness participated in the study. Before training and between sets, they inhaled the aroma of 90% dark chocolate, 60% milk chocolate, or a control sample without any scent.
Dark Chocolate Reduced Hunger and Improved Results
Participants who inhaled the scent of dark chocolate reported feeling less hungry, a reduced desire to eat, and greater satiety. Additionally, they completed approximately 18 more repetitions during the leg extension exercise compared to the control group.
The aroma of milk chocolate also had a positive effect, though to a lesser extent—participants performed about 9 additional repetitions. However, they described the scent of milk chocolate as more pleasant.
“The effect of chocolate odors immediately before and between sets significantly increased the total volume of training without increasing the perception of effort,” said the study’s senior author, Associate Professor Mohamed Nashrudin bin Naharudin from the University of Malaya.
Why This Might Work
According to the authors, familiar food scents can trigger psychological mechanisms related to satiety. The smell of dark chocolate is likely associated with more nutritious food, while the aroma of milk chocolate fosters a more enjoyable emotional experience during training.
However, the researchers caution that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions. Hormonal changes or brain activity were not analyzed during the experiment, and the sample size was small. Larger studies are needed to confirm these results.
Source: Frontiers
