The chocolate helped regulate neural signalling and improved the immune response.
Dark chocolate with a high concentration of cacao (above 70%) has positive effects on mood, stress and levels of inflammation, new research shows.
Cacao — which comes closer than cocoa to its natural form — contains high levels of flavanoids.
Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that have been shown to support the cognitive, cardiovascular and endocrine system.
Dr Lee S. Berk, who led two new studies on cacao, 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, and are encouraged by the findings.
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.”
In the first of the studies Dr Berk and colleagues found that 70% cacao chocolate helped regulate neural signalling and improve cellular immune response.
In the second, they found that consuming 48g of dark chocolate enhanced neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganise itself to respond to new situations.
SOURCE:
https://www.spring.org.uk/2018/04/best-chocolate-brain.php(accessed 25.4.18)
No comments:
Post a Comment