Chocolate news just keeps getting better

For all us chocolate lovers, the news just keep getting better and better.

Recently it was found that chocolate is good for your heart.

Now a recent study has shown that there may be cognitive improvements when we eat chocolate.

So it seems that chocolate is not only good for your heart, it is good for your brain as well. The good news just keeps on coming!!!!

But there is a catch – it is dark chocolate which seems to be the type giving these benefits.

The Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS) has been happening for some time in Syracuse in New York, and researchers have published research in the journal Appetite, which indicates that dark chocolate consumption increases cognitive performance.

Why dark chocolate, instead of the more popular milk type? Dark chocolate has higher levels of flavanols.

The participants in the research were asked how often they ate from list of foods, which included chocolate, amongst demographic and health questions. They were then given cognitive function tests, including the Mini-Mental State Examination.

It was found that, ignoring other dietary habits and health issues, higher chocolate consumption showed higher cognitive function.

The researchers wrote “It is evident that nutrients in foods exert differential effects on the brain. As has been repeatedly demonstrated, isolating these nutrients and foods enables the formation of dietary interventions to optimize neuropsychological health. Adopting dietary patterns to delay or slow the onset of cognitive decline is an appropriate avenue, given the limited treatments available for dementia. The present findings support recent clinical trials suggesting that regular intake of cocoa flavanols may have a beneficial effect on cognitive function, and possibly protect against normal age-related cognitive decline.”

Source: Crichton GE, Elias MF, Alkerwi A. Chocolate intake is associated with better cognitive function: the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study. Appetite. 2016.