Everyone loves when they discover that their favorite food is healthy. Lucky for everyone, the more we learn about chocolate the healthier it seems to be.
In 2007, a study was done that showed how antioxidants in chocolate called flavanols could benefit the brain. In this study, drinking just one drink of flavanol-rich cocoa led to increased blood flow, and therefore more oxygen, in key areas of the brain.
A new study that was just released supported the findings and then some. It found that drinking more flavanol-rich cocoa led to higher scores on tests of attention and other mental skills.
While they remind us that more studies still need to be done, head researcher Dr. Giovambattista Desideri said, “This study provides encouraging evidence that consuming cocoa flavanols, as part of a calories controlled and nutritionally balanced diet, could improve cognitive function”
So go ahead and eat a little more chocolate with no extra guilt, so long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
