Is Chocolate Good for Brain Health?

Chocolate. A sweet, indulgent confection that tickles taste buds and calms senses. Many will agree that chocolate is one of the best discoveries in history with its rich, luscious flavor and impeccable versatility as an ingredient. Plus, with the right products, chocolate can provide amazing benefits to your health.

Where Cocoa Comes From

Chocolate comes from cocoa beans that grew on trees in Central America and South America 100 million years ago. By 2000 BC, pre-Olmec people in Central America (now modern Mexico) ground the beans into powder, turning them into a hot or cold chocolate drink with either vanilla or chili peppers for an added kick. They also made spicy porridge with corn and chilies, or added honey to sweeten the flavor of cocoa. Indeed, people were quick to realize the versatility of chocolate, thus, its rampant popularity that took no time to spread throughout the entire world.

To date, most of the world’s cocoa is grown near the equator because cocoa trees thrive in humid, tropical climates with regular rains.

A Study on Chocolate: A Treat for the Brain

A study at Harvard Medical School found that drinking two or more cups of cocoa on the daily can improve the memory of elders and protect the brain against mental decline. The research involved 60 participants with an average age of 73. Each participant was given two cups of cocoa for 30 consecutive days, and was instructed not to consume other chocolate products throughout the study.

Before the experimental phase began, each participant was evaluated using MRI and a series of mental tests. The evaluation was crucial to measure neurovascular coupling in the brain, which describes the relationship between blood flow and neural activity. Poor blood flow in the brain acts as a form of barrier to neurovascular coupling.

The Results

At the study’s conclusion, nearly all the participants were found to have improved neurovascular coupling. In addition, the participants showed significant improvement in memory.

Before the experiment, participants were given memory tests that were completed in 167 seconds on average. After the study period, however, the average time of completion was reduced to an astonishing 116 seconds — an overall 30 percent improvement in just 30 days of drinking hot chocolate.

Chocolate and Alzheimer’s Disease

Another study unraveled a significant discovery on how a particular cocoa extract may actively fight Alzheimer’s disease.

According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, “A specific preparation of cocoa extract called Lavado may reduce damage to nerve pathways seen in Alzheimer’s disease patients’ brains long before they develop symptoms.” Lavado cocoa extract prevents the protein amyloid fibrils from gradually forming clumps in the brain, which are known to damage nerve cells as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.

Lavado cocoa is predominantly composed of polyphenols or antioxidants also found in fruits and vegetables, with previous studies suggesting that they prevent degenerative diseases of the brain.

Start Drinking Hot Cocoa Today

These two groundbreaking studies, along with several others, provide substantial evidence that cocoa is beneficial for memory improvement, and may be useful in fighting the onset of Alzheimer’s, along with other significant health benefits associated with moderate cocoa consumption.

To reap the full health benefits of cocoa, make sure to purchase organic or minimally processed dark chocolate.