A study has shown that drinking hot chocolate could help over 60s stay on their feet as it is believed cocoa boosts blood circulation in the legs. Those who drank a mug of cocoa three times a day for six months were able to walk significantly further in a walking test at the end of the study.
Cocoa is abundant in a compound called epicatechin, also found in dark chocolate.
Researchers think it's epicatechin that may improve blood flow to participants' calves, allowing them to go the extra distance.
The study was carried out on people with the common peripheral artery disease or 'PAD,' which is a narrowing of the arteries.
A fifth of people over 60 in the UK have some degree of PAD, causing pain, tightness and cramping in leg muscles while walking.
Speaking to media Professor McDermott said: 'If our results are confirmed in a larger trial, these findings suggest that cocoa, a relatively inexpensive, safe and accessible product, could potentially produce significant improvements in calf muscle health, blood flow, and walking performance for PAD patients.'
The researchers highlighted that regular chocolate - often laden with sugar - would not be expected to have the same effect as the cocoa they used, which is commonly available.
The study was published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation Research.
