NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, my head has been hurting all day. Let's give it a try.

Is chocolate good for your brain?
Posted: Feb 19th 2007 5:00PM by Bethany Sanders
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Aging, Healthy Products

Any new reason to eat chocolate is good enough for me! Prior research has found that eating certain forms of chocolate may be good for your heart. New research shows that it may be good for your brain as well and may help preserve brain function as people age.

It's the flavanols -- found in cocoa -- that get all the credit for these health-boosting benefits. In the study, women were given a cup of flavanol-rich cocoa and then asked to complete difficult mental tasks. Though their test performance did not improve after drinking the cocoa, the chocolate drink did increase the blood flow to their brains for hours afterward. Researchers think this may have implications for treating elderly patients whose brain function is declining, though they say this study was too small to make any major conclusions.

The study was funded by Mars -- a chocolate manufacturer, no surprise -- who makes the popular flavanol-rich Cocovia. Whether cocoa truly does improve brain function remains to be seen, but this study seems promising. (Or I may just be hoping for yet another reason to enjoy chocolate without the guilt!)
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I know it's good for my brain - if for no other reason than it's the best anti-depressant I know.

Well, I guess I'll keep on eating chocolate then...either way, I benefit. ;)

Heh. A friend of mine just gave up Chocolate for Lent.

I Love being an Atheist!

Is chocolate good for your brain?
Posted: Feb 19th 2007 5:00PM by Bethany Sanders
Filed under: Food and Nutrition, General Health, Healthy Aging, Healthy Products

Any new reason to eat chocolate is good enough for me! Prior research has found that eating certain forms of chocolate may be good for your heart. New research shows that it may be good for your brain as well and may help preserve brain function as people age.

It's the flavanols -- found in cocoa -- that get all the credit for these health-boosting benefits. In the study, women were given a cup of flavanol-rich cocoa and then asked to complete difficult mental tasks. Though their test performance did not improve after drinking the cocoa, the chocolate drink did increase the blood flow to their brains for hours afterward. Researchers think this may have implications for treating elderly patients whose brain function is declining, though they say this study was too small to make any major conclusions.

The study was funded by Mars -- a chocolate manufacturer, no surprise -- who makes the popular flavanol-rich Cocovia. Whether cocoa truly does improve brain function remains to be seen, but this study seems promising. (Or I may just be hoping for yet another reason to enjoy chocolate without the guilt!)
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I know it's good for my brain - if for no other reason than it's the best anti-depressant I know.
Gah, I read about this yesterday in a lengthier article but I forgot where.

It's sadly not really saying that "chocolate is good for you". Those flavanols are what makes cocoa bitter which is why they are stripped from most commercially sold cocoa products.

But from that article, the research seemed quite sound. It confirmed the findings in a South American tribal community that, on their native islands, drinks cocoa exclusively (!). Dementia and... gah... something else, stroke maybe? ... is unknown there, and only crops up in those members of the tribe that move away and stop with the cocoa.

So basically it seems to be a safe bet to find flavanol rich chocolate and cocoa powder and eat/drink that - but those would usually be only found in the more expensive, specialized chocolate stores.

But from that article, the research seemed quite sound. It confirmed the findings in a South American tribal community that, on their native islands, drinks cocoa exclusively (!). Dementia and... gah... something else, stroke maybe? ... is unknown there, and only crops up in those members of the tribe that move away and stop with the cocoa.

Memory loss, perhaps? ;) :p

Memory loss, perhaps? ;) :pHeh, probably. >.<

Memory loss, perhaps? ;) :p

*giggles*


Anyway, it is not as if I'm going to increase or decrease my chocolate intake anyway. If it helps my brain then it is a nice side benefit. I'll continue to think of chocolate as just a tasty treat. Anything more and it will just take away from it being a great junk food. It having an actual benefit? Can't have that, I don't want to be thinking that it could actually be HELPING me somehow! I want to have a sinful pleasure, knowing if I don't watch it I'll add even more weight to the extra I already have. THAT is what chocolate is all about!

[/crazed jumbled rant]

*Eats chocolate*
*Offers chocolate*


Mmmm... Chocolate :fluffle: