Here's some sweet health news for chocolate lovers: A daily dose of the sugary treat may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. That's the conclusion of new research at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is consistently ranked 1s…
Can chocolate help prevent Alzheimer's disease?
A new study shows that the flavanols in chocolate reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and other dementia conditions by protecting brain cells and increasing blood flow around the brain.
Can flavanols in chocolate help improve brain function?
A new review published in the May 2017 edition of Frontiers in Nutrition analyzed the evidence to date that flavanols (found in dark chocolate and cocoa, among other foods) may benefit human brain function. Flavanols are a form of flavonoids, plant-based substances that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Can chocolate improve memory and reaction time?
Short-term consumption may be helpful. For example, a 2011 study of young adults found that two hours after consuming dark chocolate (with high flavanol content), memory and reaction time were better than among those consuming white chocolate (with low flavanol content). However, other similar studies showed no benefit.
Is dark chocolate good for the brain?
In addition, many types of chocolate are high in sugar, fats, and calories. So, even if dark chocolate turns out to be good for the brain, it’s unlikely that doctors will recommend a Godiva bar a day.
Does chocolate help with Alzheimer's?
Here's some sweet health news for chocolate lovers: A daily dose of the sugary treat may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. That's the conclusion of new research at Harvard Medical School that found people who drank two cups of hot cocoa a day had improved memory and blood flow to the brain.
Is chocolate good for dementia patient?
The cocoa drinks contained flavanols, which are thought to reduce the risk of dementia by protecting brain cells from damage and increasing blood flow around the brain. Those on the highest and medium-concentration cocoa drinks had the best improvements in their cognitive tests.
Does dark chocolate help with dementia?
Short-term consumption may be helpful. For example, a 2011 study of young adults found that two hours after consuming dark chocolate (with high flavanol content), memory and reaction time were better than among those consuming white chocolate (with low flavanol content).
How does chocolate help your memory?
Asides from boosting the blood flow to the brain, the flavonoids found in chocolate have been proven to infiltrate and improve the functionality of the areas of the brain equipped with memory and learning functions. Chocolate also contains a little dosage of caffeine.
Does chocolate stimulate the brain?
Theobromine. This stimulant works alongside caffeine to produce the characteristic energy boost many people experience after getting their chocolate fix. Tryptophan. An amino acid found in small quantities in chocolate used by the brain to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter that can produce feelings of happiness.
Which dark chocolate is best for brain?
The answer, surprisingly, is that extra dark chocolate is GREAT for brain health. While pure cocoa is best, this may be too bitter for anyone with a sweet tooth, so a good rule of thumb is to go for chocolate that is 85% cocoa or more. Basically, the darker the chocolate, the better it is for your brain.
Which chocolate is best for brain?
Dark chocolate may also improve the function of your brain.One study of healthy volunteers showed that eating high flavanol cocoa for 5 days improved blood flow to the brain ( 24 ).Cocoa may also significantly improve cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.More items...
Which dark chocolate is best?
Here are some of our favorites.Endorfin Foods Turkish Coffee 60 Percent Cacao Chocolate Bar.Theo Chocolate Organic Dark Chocolate 85 Percent.Hu Salty Dark Chocolate Bar.Alter Eco Dark Salted Brown Butter Organic Chocolate Bar 70 Percent.Ghirardelli Intense Dark Twilight Delight 72 Percent Cacao Chocolate Squares.More items...•
How much dark chocolate should you eat a day?
approximately 1 to 2 ouncesWhat is the daily recommended amount of dark chocolate? The recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g, experts say. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories. A 1.45-ounce (41 gram) Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 190 calories.
Why is dark chocolate good for your brain?
Recently, some papers have shown that the flavonoids of dark chocolate improve cognitive functions, specifically working on memory and Trail-Making-Tests in healthy people and those with cognitive impairment [5,6]. Dark chocolate has the highest flavonoid content.
Is dark chocolate healthy?
Studies show that dark chocolate — when it is not loaded with sugar and saturated fat — is indeed a heart-healthy chocolate treat and more. Dark chocolate is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants. Studies show it can help reduce blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease.
Is 86 dark chocolate healthy?
Dark chocolate is packed full of important minerals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and phosphorus. In your body, these minerals are used to support factors such as immunity (zinc), can help keep your bones and teeth healthy (phosphorus), and contribute to better sleep quality (magnesium).
Why is hot cocoa good for memory?
A group of researchers from Harvard revealed that drinking two cups of hot cocoa every day helps to boost memory and could prevent dementia. Professor of psychiatry and aging, Dr. Gary Small, explains that there was a limit on cocoa consumption because it is possible to get too much even when it is a good thing.
Why is dark chocolate considered a good alternative to sugar?
Experts recommend the consumption of dark chocolate because it is rich in flavonoids that protect the brain from oxidative stress.
How many cups of hot chocolate did the volunteers consume?
The volunteers consumed two cups of hot chocolate without consuming any other form of chocolate. The experts were studying their thinking skills and memory. Those involved underwent ultrasounds to measure the flow of blood to the brain. A majority of the volunteers recorded impaired blood flow to the vital body organ (brain).
What are the minerals in chocolate?
Other than flavanols, chocolate also contains several minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. These are important for the brain and overall body health.
Is dark chocolate good for dementia?
Benefits of Dark Chocolate for the Elderly. One more study on chocolate and dementia divulges that the benefits of taking dark chocolate daily are more prominent in elderly people. Daily intake improved mental function, but this was subtle for the younger participants.
Does chocolate help dementia?
Chocolate Offers a Calming Effect on Persons with Dementia. A new study on chocolate and dementia states that chocolate has a calming effect, especially for people who are in the last stage of dementia. This is found in the AMDA (The Medical Director’s Association) publication.
Is cocoa bad for the brain?
Taking too much cocoa means that a person will gain too many calories, which is not healthy for the brain. Back to the study, it was concluded that drinking cocoa everyday causes an 8% improvement in the way blood flows to the brain. The study had 60 participants who did not have dementia with an average age of 73.
Interesting Science at Your Fingertips
It may seem too good to be true, but your brain works better on chocolate, according to a small study just published online in the journal, Nature Neuroscience.
The findings
After only three months, healthy people, ages 50 to 69, who drank a hot chocolate mixture high in flavanols performed better on a memory test than people who drank a low-flavanol mixture.
The caveats
These findings do not apply to Alzheimer’s disease; there was no increased activity in a hippocampal region known as the entorhinal cortex, which is impaired early in Alzheimer’s disease.
