A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands -- a phrase commonly used to justify ones chocolate snacking behavior. A phrase now shown to actually harbor some truth, as the cocoa bean is a rich source of flavanols: a class of natural compounds that has neuroprotective effects.
In their recent review published in Frontiers in Nutrition, Italian researchers examined the available literature for the effects of acute and chronic administration of cocoa flavanols on different cognitive domains. In other words: what happens to your brain up to a few hours after you eat cocoa flavanols, and what happens when you sustain such a cocoa flavanol enriched diet for a prolonged period of time?
Although randomized controlled trials investigating the acute effect of cocoa flavanols are sparse, most of them point towards a beneficial effect on cognitive performance. Participants showed, among others, enhancements in working memory performance and improved visual information processing after having had cocoa flavanols. And for women, eating cocoa after a night of total sleep deprivation actually counteracted the cognitive impairment (i.e. less accuracy in performing tasks) that such a night brings about. Promising results for people that suffer from chronic sleep deprivation or work shifts.
It has to be noted though, that the effects depended on the length and mental load of the used cognitive tests to measure the effect of acute cocoa consumption. In young and healthy adults, for example, a high demanding cognitive test was required to uncover the subtle immediate behavioral effects that cocoa flavanols have on this group.
Source: ScienceDaily
Journal Reference: Valentina Socci, Daniela Tempesta, Giovambattista Desideri, Luigi De Gennaro, Michele Ferrara. Enhancing Human Cognition with Cocoa Flavonoids. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2017; 4 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2017.00019
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday July 02 2017, @02:40PM (1 child)
A piece of chocolate cake really clears the head. Or two pieces. It's my superfood. Ivanka is always eating radishes and avocados for her skin. But I eat chocolate cake. It's brain food. 🇺🇸
(Score: 3, Informative) by driverless on Monday July 03 2017, @04:30AM
Not only that, other studies have shown that chocolate causes weight loss [npr.org]! It's practically a superfood.
(Score: 2) by r1348 on Sunday July 02 2017, @03:08PM (2 children)
I must be a genius then!
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday July 02 2017, @08:34PM
It may explain counselor Troi's telepathy...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 03 2017, @01:58AM
(om nomnom)
(glug glug glug)
I CAN SEE FOREVER!
(Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Sunday July 02 2017, @04:30PM (1 child)
A quick energy push does wonders for the brain power...
Україна досі не є частиною Росії Слава Україні🌻 https://news.stanford.edu/2023/02/17/will-russia-ukraine-war-end
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 02 2017, @08:41PM
Not to mention the stimulant properties of theobromine.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 02 2017, @07:02PM (2 children)
(Score: 3, Disagree) by Gaaark on Sunday July 02 2017, @08:20PM (1 child)
Nah, it's all that cancer causing diet pop they drink that kills the brain cells before they can get smarter.
It's become known that acesulphame potassium causes cancer, so they start calling it by it's brand name, 'Aspartame'.
Then, It's become known that 'Aspartame' causes cancer, so they revert back to calling it acesulphame potassium AND NO ONE NOTICES because all their brain cells are now cancer cells.
Feel smarter?
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Sunday July 02 2017, @09:25PM
Beautiful! I love the poorly educated!
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 02 2017, @11:51PM
Mars chocolate patented a method for processing chocolate in a way that preserves the flavanols. Dove dark chocolate is made that way.
https://www.cocoavia.com/cocoapro [cocoavia.com]
(Score: 2) by Osamabobama on Monday July 03 2017, @05:30PM
If you stick around long enough, somebody will come out with a study saying good things about the food item you care about. Once that happens, spool up the engines and ride the publicity train to profit!
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