Forget any illusions about being young. I’m rapidly approaching the point that I can no longer even call myself middle-aged. I think 50 was the first time I actually felt that the number itself was officially old, although I spent my 50th birthday evening at soccer practice, and even scored a goal after a long run that had one of my teammates pointing at me and shouting “how old are you? How old are you?”
But there is something about being closer to 60 than 50 that really underlines the toll that time takes on the body.
That being said, I do appear to have stumbled upon one thing that, if it is something more than psychosomatic, could potentially be of significant benefit to every reader over the age of 30 here. As evidence, I offer two things. First, the fact that despite being the oldest player in my soccer league, I’m still able to run better than most of the players who are as much as 30 years younger than me. In one game last season, I beat a pretty fast 32-year-old winger in long 50-meter race down the sideline, much to the amusement of his captain, who is a friend of mine and knows exactly how old I am.
We started the new season three weeks ago, and unlike in some past seasons when I initially wondered if I could still even play, this season I’ve already a) scored 4 goals in one practice and b) dominated my wing in another to the point that the other team gave up even trying to attack it if I was in position. Now, this isn’t a high-level team, it’s just a local veteran’s team, but there are a few very good players in the league, including one former professional who once started for a team that beat Real Madrid in the proto-Champion’s League. So it’s nothing like a local softball league either.
Second is the fact that I have twice recovered from moderately serious soft-tissue injuries at a freakishly fast rate. In one case, I even have the MRI evidence showing how a four-day old injury looked as if it was several months old. In the other, I was running full speed exactly 30 days after a grade-two hamstring pull.
Could it be a coincidence? Could it be my Indian blood? Could we be looking at correlation and happenstance rather than causation? Certainly. But there is just enough scientific evidence to suggest that it might be worth trying if you’re beginning to deal with the physical travails of getting older.
A groundbreaking clinical study conducted by a team of researchers aimed to investigate the effects of cocoa consumption on stem cell mobilization and activity within the human body. The study involved a group of participants who were given a controlled dose of cocoa (dark chocolate) over a specific period, and the results were nothing short of astonishing.
Enhanced Stem Cell Mobilization: The study revealed that cocao powder (dark chocolate), abundant in flavonoids and procyanidins, will boost cellular health and stem cell production, driven by its high epicatechin levels. Recent findings show cocoa intake significantly enhances stem cell mobilization from bone marrow to the bloodstream, aiding their migration to injury sites for healing. Further research is needed to establish the optimal dosage for these benefits.
Increased Stem Cell Proliferation: Additionally, the researchers observed a notable increase in the proliferation of stem cells in response to cocoa consumption. This heightened replication of stem cells indicates a potential for accelerated tissue repair and regeneration.
Improved Stem Cell Activity: The study also demonstrated that cocoa consumption was associated with enhanced stem cell activity, as evidenced by increased expression of genes related to stem cell function. This suggests that cocoa might not only boost the number of stem cells but also enhance their ability to carry out their regenerative roles effectively.
Now, I’ve always eaten a lot of dark chocolate. I eat regularly, and in reasonable moderation, two small squares after lunch and two after dinner. But since noticing the speed of my recoveries and reading about the possible link between cocoa consumption and stem cell regeneration, I replaced my 4x daily espressos with daily mochas utilizing 100-percent cocoa. I make an espresso, like normal, then add in a heaping teaspoon of pure cocoa, a bit of sugar, and enough milk to fill up the mug. Once upon rising, once after lunch, once after dinner, and once after midnight.
Since I started that routine, I haven’t had a single injury other than a mild glute strain at the end of one practice that slowed me down a little the next week but didn’t prevent me from playing, and the shoulder strain that was preventing me from doing behind-the-head pullups recovered sufficiently that I’m back to doing four sets of 10+ once a week without discomfort.
So, perhaps it’s worth trying, even if you’re just dealing with the everyday aches and pains of of middle age and beyond.
The dark lord needs his hot chocolate.
Does this mean we ladies can have all the chocolate we're craving during pregnancy?