Is Chocolate One of the Foods that Improves Memory?

We secretly indulge in it. Use it to lift our mood. Warm us up on a cold winters day. And package it up with a pretty bow for almost any occasion. What am I talking about? Of course chocolate, that one guilty pleasure that is actually good for us. But is chocolate one of the foods that improves memory?

Some studies have revealed a connection between chocolate and cardiovascular health claiming its benefits. In fact, researchers for years have been working with chocolate to discover its effects on the human body. These studies are incredibly important to help us find preventative means to some of the leading diseases in the United States. However, you don’t have to go to a research lab to know the value of chocolate. While it tastes great we all know that it also has a mood food connection. In actuality, many people swear by it and use it as their feel good drug. So what is it that is so fascinating about this super-food?

Chocolate, after all, is a plant-based food. The cocoa bean grows on trees, and it’s a powerful source of nutrients called flavonols, a type of antioxidant that helps protect plants from environmental toxins and can help heal damaged human cells. Of course, cocoa beans undergo processing when they get turned into chocolate. But certain types of dark chocolate retain many of their nutrients even after processing, and they’re believed to be the healthiest. via A Healthy Excuse to Eat Dark Chocolate – Market Watch

Chocolate and Memory Research

Several studies have demonstrated the health benefits of flavonoids. These powerful chemicals contained in super-foods help to reduce oxidative stress on the cells and in doing so will have a direct impact on heart disease and cancer. But lately researchers have been more interested in how these flavonoids, especially those found in chocolate, affect the brain. We need to better understand if chocolate is in fact one of the foods that improves memory. A few new studies give us insight into that.

A team of research scientists from the Harvard Medical School, publishing the results of a study in the journal/Neurology have found that drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day may keep the brain healthy and prevent memory decline in older people by preserving blood flow in working areas of the brain. via Chocolate may prevent memory loss and Alzheimer’s dementia

One of the reasons our memory begins to weaken is because of a decrease of oxygen to our cells. We need to have ways to improve our circulation, which directly impacts on blood flow and oxygen to our brains. This is exactly what our brain needs to be sharp and active. Exercise certainly does this, but so do various brain foods with chocolate being one of them. So is chocolate one of the foods that improves memory? Absolutely.

Chocolate as One of the Foods that Improves Memory – More Evidence

One study, conducted by Ian A. Macdonald, PhD, from the University of Nottingham Medical School in the United Kingdom, found that the consumption of this cocoa resulted in regional changes in blood flow in study participants, suggesting that cocoa flavonols may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of vascular impairments within the brain itself. “Our study showed that acute consumption of this particular flavonol-rich cocoa beverage was associated with increased blood flow to grey matter for 2 to 3 hours,” Macdonald said. “This raises the possibility that certain food components like cocoa flavonols may be beneficial in increasing brain blood flow and enhancing brain function among older adults or for others in situations where they may be cognitively impaired, such as fatigue or sleep deprivation.” via Does Chocolate Improve Your Memory? Improving Your Memory Techniques

Chocolate and the Heart Health Connection

Chocolate has been associated with heart health, with earlier studies suggesting it helps to lower blood pressure and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease. via A Healthy Excuse to Eat Dark Chocolate – Market Watch

There are a number of theories for why chocolate may be good for heart health, but one of the most widely accepted is the presence of polyphenols. These antioxidants are particularly helpful because they increase the production of nitric oxide, a chemical that is associated with lower blood pressure, according to WebMD. via Drinking Hot Chocolate May Improve Memory | Sunrise Senior Living