The Chocolate Effect: A Sweet Boost for Gym Performance? The idea that sniffing dark chocolate can enhance gym performance might seem like a marketing gimmick, but research suggests there's some truth to this claim.
A study published in Frontiers In Physiology found that the aroma of dark chocolate helped participants complete more leg extensions and reduced hunger.
In the study, 23 healthy men who had fasted for 10 hours were divided into three groups: one sniffed liquified dark chocolate (90% cocoa), another milk chocolate (60% cocoa), and a third group received a control water sample.