Chocolate Makes and Keeps You Smarter

Good news for the chocoholics out there. In addition to its other health benefits, chocolate has just been found to improve blood flow to the brain, possibly decreasing the likelihood of stroke and dementia.

Blood flow to the brain decreases over time, and can cause serious damage. Besides stroke, dementia has also been linked to the decreased blood flow. In a study conducted at Harvard, older adults (aged 59-83) were given a cocoa-flavonol-rich beverage (like hot cocoa) to drink regularly. After only one week, they showed an 8% increase in blood flow with the brain, and a 10% increase over two weeks.

Flavonols are a compound found in chocolate, and have recently been linked with improved heart health, due to their high concentration of antioxidants. They are found in the highest abundance in dark chocolate, rather than milk chocolate, which has been diluted with too many unhealthy ingredients (sugar, cocoa butter, cream) to be considered healthy in any regard. While dark chocolate has not been found to be as healthy as a diet high in fruits and vegetables, it nonetheless has been found recently to have surprising health benefits, especially because of the flavonols therein.

Up until recently, antioxidants were thought to be the silver bullet in the flavonol gun. Antioxidants are responsible for helping the cells of the body resist and repair damage done by environmental factors (air pollution, cigarette smoke) and other free radicals. When the body lacks in free radicals, LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) oxidation increases, which causes plaque to form on arterial walls. Making sure to eat a diet high in antioxidants has been shown to significantly reduce this oxidation, and to help your cardiovascular system stay healthy. And, while the usual health suspects (fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts) are among the highest in antioxidants, it has been shown that dark chocolate also boasts a heart-health-improving amount.

This latest study, however, is the first to definitively link the presence of cocoa flavonols in the body's system with an increase in brain flow to the brain. This increase in blood flow can not only help stem the tide of dementia and stroke, but also has more practical benefits. Another recent study has found that increased brain flow, thanks to chocolate, can specifically help people perform math.

The health benefits of dark chocolate's flavonols have, until recently, been seen as long-term ones. However, with this newest study showing a marked improvement in blood flow to the brain over a period of mere weeks, we now know that it's never too late to develop a sweet tooth, for your health's sake.

"Flavonol-Rich Cocoa Consumption Improves Blood Flow To The Brain"

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/05/flavanol-rich-cocoa-consumption.html

www.alzheimersreadingroom.com

"Chocolate Can Help With...Math?"

http://www.livescience.com/health/090403-chocolate-mind.html

www.livescience.com