A daily bite of dark chocolate is not only good for one's health but boosts brain power too, research revealed today.
Results from two studies show that consuming dark chocolate that has a high concentration of cacao has positive effects on stress, mood, memory and fighting off diseases.
The findings were presented at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in San Diego.
While it is well known that cacao is a major source of beneficial flavonoid compounds, this is the first time the effect has been studied in human subjects to determine how it can support brain, body and heart health.
Dr Lee Berk, a food science expert who spearheaded the study at Loma Linda University in California, said: “For years we have looked at the influence of dark chocolate on neurological functions from the standpoint of sugar content the more sugar, the happier we are."
“This is the first time that we have looked at the impact of large amounts of cacao in doses as small as a regular-sized chocolate bar in humans over short or long periods of time."
“These studies show us that the higher the concentration of cacao, the more positive the impact on cognition, memory, mood, immunity and other beneficial effects.”
The flavonoids found in cacao are extremely potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, with known mechanisms beneficial for brain and cardiovascular health.
The study assessed the impact of eating 48 grammes of dark chocolate with a minimum cacao level of 70 per cent and 30 per cent organic cane sugar.
