Chocolate, which is over three hundred years old, is a product that defies unambiguous characteristics. This sweet delicacy has an incomparable taste and properties that do not allow it to be called simply the joy of a sweet tooth.
The benefits of chocolate are multifaceted, but this statement applies to a certain type of chocolate. It is dark chocolate that can be called a tasty and healthy delicacy. It can influence various processes occurring in our body. Bitter chocolate for the brain is proven by several generations of students to activate its work during the sessions.
Dark chocolate improves brain function - myth or proven fact?
Mankind rarely takes any statement on faith. Everything must have its evidence. Bitter chocolate, despite its centuries-old age, is still subjected to numerous studies. And they, it must be said, still surprise scientists with their results.
Why is this happening?
Schoolchildren have tested over many years how dark chocolate improves brain function. And scientists have proven why this happens. Three components that affect brain activity:
- Lecithin is a neurotransmitter substance. It is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain.
- Theobromine is a constituent of cocoa beans. It has antispasmodic properties - relieves spasms of cerebral vessels. Improves mood by causing the brain to produce more endorphins.
- Fast carbohydrates are simply necessary for the normal functioning of the brain. For a quick satiety, a rather small piece of dark chocolate, so moderate consumption of bitter sweetness will serve to stimulate the brain, and at the same time will not affect your harmony in any way.
Scientists have proven that the secret of the benefits of dark chocolate is directly proportional to the content of cocoa beans in its composition. According to research, cocoa beans are a source of energy that helps improve the cognitive (cognitive) properties of the brain.
British scientists have tested in practice the benefits of dark chocolate for the brain. As a result of the experiment, in humans, after drinking a chocolate drink, blood flow to the most important parts of the brain increased for two to three hours. And as a result of this - an improvement in reaction and an increase in intelligence.
Recipe for a cocktail that stimulates brain activity
Dark chocolate improves brain function due to the expansion of blood vessels and a better supply of blood and oxygen to them. Therefore, it is so effective for overwork and lack of sleep.
For maximum benefit it is worth choosing chocolate in which the percentage of cocoa content is as high as possible, and the presence of sugars and other side additives in its composition is minimized. Better yet, make your own nutritious chocolate smoothie, borrowed from the ancient Aztecs. Such a recipe will really make the blood run faster through the veins and quickly bring you to your senses.
- Tablespoon of quality cocoa.
- A small amount of coffee.
- Low fat milk.
- A pinch of cinnamon and red cayenne pepper.
This drink will not taste like the usual sweet hot chocolate, but it was in this form that the Aztecs used it in the morning and at lunch.
Of course, dark chocolate is not a panacea and will not solve serious problems. But sometimes the short-term effect of a piece of chocolate gives more results than long thoughtful reflections.
Is there a person in the world who does not like sweets? Most likely, if such a “hater” of sweets was found, then with great effort. Is there anyone who refuses a piece of chocolate? Yes, you can not love, for example, cakes, ice cream and other sweets, but chocolate, at least some kind of it, is loved by almost everyone without exception, although very many also reproach themselves for every piece of delicacy. But is it worth scolding yourself for a weakness for chocolate?
Everyone knows that chocolate can spoil the figure, and in general it is not very willingly classified as a healthy product, and this is completely in vain! The thing is that this delicacy is not such a harmful product at all, moreover, chocolate is good for the brain.
What are the benefits of chocolate for the brain?
Several years ago, Harvard scientists became interested in the properties of chocolate that are useful for brain activity. To conduct the study, they assembled a focus group of sixty elderly people, whose average age was 70 years, and among them were those who had a decrease in blood flow in the brain tissue, which, in turn, was reflected in memory and reaction speed. During the experiment, the study participants were served a serving of hot chocolate every day, while other sources of cocoa were banned.
At the end of the study, the results were genuinely surprising - the group of subjects who had reduced blood flow in the brain tissues was practically equal in reaction speed and memory sharpness with the rest of the focus group: brain activity indicators increased by about 70% compared with the initial results, which were obtained before the start of the experiment.
Thus, scientific confirmation of the benefits of chocolate for brain activity was obtained: it's all about caffeine and glucose, which are found in large quantities in the treat.
Are all types of chocolate the same?
Of course, each type of chocolate is good in its own way, and there is a lover for each type of sweet treat. But it is classic dark chocolate that is useful for the brain, in which the cocoa content is high (from 60% or more). Therefore, unfortunately, white or milk chocolate is not suitable for nourishing the brain, but there is good news: dark chocolate can be consumed not only in the form of bars, but also hot, which is no less tasty.
Thus, a bar of dark chocolate will be the best snack on the exam: you stimulate brain activity, get a charge Have a good mood and a surge of strength, and enjoying the most delicate taste of delicacy is already an exquisite pleasure.
December 28 is National Chocolate Candy Day! The world loves chocolate, but not only because of the taste, but also because of the benefits. You knew here eg, that during World War II, the US government commissioned Milton Hershey to manufacture chocolate bars to include them in the diet of soldiers? The recipe his company created formed the basis of Hershey's chocolate bars, which are famous today.
To this day, chocolate remains America's favorite sweet, with over 2.8 billion pounds eaten a year. Therefore, today MINI wants to emphasize not only the popularity of this delicacy, but also its beneficial properties for the brain. Monday may be a hard day, but with chocolate it’s easier to survive it :)
"All you need is Love. But a little chocolate wouldn't hurt either.
— Charles M. Schultz
It rarely happens that sweets are healthy, but dark chocolate is a happy exception to the rule. If you want to see the lists of the most useful products for the brain, in all chocolate will come first. Let's try to understand why:
- Dark chocolate makes us happier.
Dark chocolate promotes the release of "happy" substances - endorphins. They affect the brain's opiate receptors, leading to a feeling of euphoria, similar to that experienced by runners during "running euphoria". They also reduce pain and reduce the negative effects of stress.
Chocolate is the main dietary source of tryptophan, an amino acid, a precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter of happiness and good mood.
Chocolate is the only known source of anandamide, sometimes referred to as the “bliss molecule.” It is very similar to THC, the main psychoactive substance found in marijuana.
Dark chocolate also contains phenethylamine, a complex substance called the “love substance” because it has the same effect on the brain as falling in love.
- Dark chocolate improves blood flow to the brain.
The complex compounds in chocolate improve memory, alertness, reaction time, and problem-solving ability by increasing blood flow to the brain. The flavonoids in chocolate have been proven to improve blood flow in both young and old. In one study, a single dose of flavonoid-rich cocoa increased blood flow to the brains of healthy young adults.
A Harvard Medical School study found that two glasses of hot chocolate increased blood flow to the brain for 2-3 hours.
This increase in current improved the short-term memory speed test by 30%.
Increasing blood flow to the brain can help improve short-term memory and prevent mental decline in older adults.
- Dark chocolate protects the brain from the harmful effects of free radicals.
The brain uses a large amount of oxygen, about 20% of the body's total consumption. Therefore, it is very susceptible to the effects of free radicals - free oxygen molecules that act on the cells of the body in much the same way as oxygen on a metal, causing corrosion.
Have you seen how an apple or avocado darkens on a cut? So you've seen how free radicals work. Wrinkles, age spots, sun damage are all visible traces of free radical damage. The same process takes place inside the brain. Antioxidants protect brain cells, neutralizing damage and preventing premature cell aging.
Cocoa powder contains more antioxidants than the rest of the "superfoods" - acai berries, blueberries and pomegranates.
Compared to coffee and tea, cocoa has overtaken green tea but stayed behind coffee.
- Dark chocolate improves learning, memory and concentration.
Cocoa flavonoids penetrate and accumulate in the brain regions responsible for learning and memory, especially in the hippocampus.
The flavonoids in chocolate improve performance on a standard cognitive function test.
It also contains caffeine, a known substance that improves memory, mood and concentration.
How much caffeine is in chocolate compared to tea and coffee?
According to Caffeine Informer, Ghirardelli 60% cocoa dark chocolate has about 30mg of caffeine per 28g, while Hershey's cocoa powder has 48mg per 28g.
In green tea 25 mg, and in brewed coffee - 64-272 mg per 28 g.
As you can see, a standard serving of chocolate is relatively low in caffeine. So eating dark chocolate won't excite you or keep you from falling asleep.
- Dark chocolate helps fight stress.
Magnesium is so good at helping you relax that it's been called the "natural tranquility pill." But we don't have enough of it in our diet.
Chocolate is one of the best sources of magnesium. It is believed that this is why we like it so much.
Getting more magnesium from chocolate improves focus, mood, sleep, and stress tolerance.
Theobromine is a compound found primarily in chocolate. It is similar to caffeine, but paradoxically, it is more relaxing than stimulating.
- Dark chocolate helps control appetite.
Chocolate is the most favorite sweet. But gorging yourself on cheap, mass-produced chocolate won't cut your sugar cravings. In fact, on the contrary, increase it.
On the other hand, we need a lot less dark chocolate to curb our sweet cravings. Eating dark chocolate reduces cravings junk food all kinds - sweet, salty and fatty. Gradually, it helps you choose healthier foods, reduce your calorie intake, and eventually lose weight.
And all this because of the unique content of photochemicals? Or is there a psychological aspect to our love of chocolate?
Interestingly, the sensory experience of eating chocolate appears to be an important part of its ability to satisfy food cravings. When scientists put all of its beneficial substances into a pill, it did not cause the same effect.
- Eating dark chocolate protects the brain throughout life.
Many surprising facts have been found out about the benefits of chocolate in the treatment of brain diseases, such as stroke and dementia.
The powerful antioxidants in dark chocolate reduce the risk of dementia. In fact, the more chocolate the elderly ate, the less likely they were to develop insanity.
Chocolate flavanols improved cognitive performance in older people with mild cognitive impairment.
Dark chocolate also reduces impaired insulin susceptibility. Many experts just consider Alzheimer's disease the result of such a violation. Now it is sometimes referred to as type 3 diabetes. When brain cells are resistant to insulin, they do not receive the required amount of glucose and, as a result, they die.
Consuming foods rich in flavonoids (such as cocoa) may limit, prevent, or reverse age-related decline in brain function.
- Dark chocolate supports gut bacteria that are good for the brain.
One of the most unusual health benefits of dark chocolate is that it increases the beneficial bacteria in the gut. And strangely, it is good for the brain!
Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are two of the most beneficial gut bacteria and are found in many probiotic-fortified foods. They act as antioxidants, protecting the brain from the harmful effects of free radicals.
Chocolate acts as a probiotic, supporting high level good and low levels of bad bacteria. Too many bad bacteria can lower your levels of important brain chemicals.
- Dark chocolate makes you smarter.
You have already learned that chocolate improves learning, concentration and memory.
And in one of the studies it was found that the more chocolate consumed in a country, the more Nobel Prize winners in it!
Although it looks like a joke, this study was published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, a serious organization that is not known for pranks.
What to look for when buying chocolate:
Why is dark chocolate better for the brain than milk chocolate?
Compared to dairy, dark contains more beneficial substances, such as flavonoids and antioxidants, and less harmful ones, such as sugar. It is believed that the dairy products in milk chocolate may interfere with the absorption of flavonoids, but studies have not yet come to definitive conclusions.
What percentage?
If you see a figure of 70% on a chocolate bar, it means the percentage of all products derived from cocoa beans - cocoa mass, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. In general, 70% - a good start if you want the real benefits of dark chocolate. If that's too much (too bitter) for you, start with 50% chocolate.
Well, MINI, we ran for chocolates, we need to finish off last days year on a good wave!:) Who is with us?
Why dark chocolate is good for the brain
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Want to find a tasty treat that's good for your brain? Chocolate tops all lists of useful products for the body, including it helps to activate brain activity, improves memory and learning ability. Why is it so? Which chocolate is best for the brain?
9 reasons to eat chocolate
Does chocolate improve brain function? This effect has been proven many times. But what is its effect? What effect does this delicacy have on the brain? Below you will find 9 reasons that will convince you to eat dark chocolate every day:
- This is the source of happiness. Eating real chocolate promotes the release of endorphins and tryptophan. These substances dull pain, improve mood and induce a state of happiness. The sweetness also contains phenylethylamine, a substance that has the same effect on the brain as the first love.
Chocolate is the only source of anandamine. This substance is very similar to THC, the main component of marijuana, which provokes a "laughing" effect.
- The consumption of this product increases blood flow to the brain. This improves memory, increases the speed of decision-making, attentiveness. For older people, eating chocolate can help fight age-related mental decline. In one experiment, when children were given a glass of hot chocolate every day at school, it was proven that this improves short-term memory by 30% and helps them make decisions faster.
- Its consumption protects against the harmful effects of free radicals. 20% of the oxygen consumed is in the brain, so it is most susceptible to the influence of free radicals (oxygen molecules that act on cells in the same way that oxygen acts on metal, provoking corrosion). An example of the action of free radicals is the darkening of the pulp of cut fruits, such as apples. The antioxidants found in chocolate interfere with negative processes in the brain.
- Improves memory, concentration, learning ability. This effect is exerted by flavonoids, which accumulate in separate parts brain in large numbers, in particular in the hippocampus. Another substance that also improves concentration and improves mood is caffeine. Indeed, it is in chocolate, but in a smaller amount than in coffee, so it will not interfere with sleep.
- Great way to deal with stress. Calming effect can be achieved due to magnesium. This substance is very necessary for a person, but in our diet, as a rule, it is not enough. Chocolate is one of those foods that contains the most magnesium. That is why many people like to eat chocolates in stressful situations, and it also helps fight insomnia.
Natural chocolate contains theobromine, which is very similar to caffeine. But, unlike his brother, he helps to relax rather than cheer up.
- Helps to "pacify" the appetite. Unfortunately, this applies only to good dark chocolate; cheap sweets will not be able to satisfy your appetite. It reduces cravings for junk food, helps to switch to less painful healthy eating. Many people eat it to lose weight. A small portion significantly reduces appetite.
No one knows what exactly causes this effect. Scientists are of the opinion that appetite decreases due to certain psychological aspects, because when all the substances from chocolate were placed in a tablet, this result could not be achieved.
- Prevention of brain diseases. It is dark chocolate that becomes a great way to deal with age-related problems associated with brain activity. Consuming this treat significantly reduces the susceptibility of cells to stroke. An elderly person will benefit from pampering himself with 50 g of this sweet every day. It can reverse the destruction of brain cells. Also, in those who use this sweetness, insanity is less likely to appear, memory remains the same even in their declining years.
Your child can also benefit from this treat. Having eaten one chocolate bar before a school exam, he will ensure fast brain work and good concentration for at least 2 hours!
- Helps maintain proper levels of intestinal bacteria. Oddly enough, but the harmonious balance of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the intestine helps protect the brain from free radicals. These substances do the work of antioxidants, which helps to achieve a similar result. We can say that this product plays the role of probiotics and helps to maintain a stable level of bad and good bacteria.
- The more chocolate, the smarter. Although it sounds like a joke, scientists have noticed a strange statistic. The more across the country average its consumption, the more there are winners nobel prize! Such results of the study were published by the respected New England Journal of Medicine. Perhaps this is due to the fact that chocolate improves brain activity, memory, concentration, which helps to learn faster. Another interesting fact: Geniuses love dark chocolate!
Black or milky?
But how does chocolate affect the brain? Of course, it's all about the cocoa. Its grains contain a substance called flavanol. It stimulates blood flow to the brain and speeds up its activity.
Which chocolate is more beneficial for the brain, milk or black? On this occasion, a whole study was conducted, in which 30 women and men from 18 to 25 years old participated. The level of intelligence of all was approximately the same, and none of them possessed any special abilities.
The experiment began with the fact that everyone was given a piece of dark chocolate (40-50 g) to eat and the reaction of the brain was monitored. On average, the level of mental abilities increased by 62-67%. These results surprised even the researchers themselves. The effect of chocolate lasted about 3-4 hours, the first decline was observed after an hour.
It's all about the flavanol. There is much more of this substance in dark chocolate. Moreover, milk, which is part of the milk bar of the delicacy, almost completely blocks flavanol particles, and carbons are responsible for increasing brain activity, in the case of milk chocolate.
Flavanol not only stimulates the brain, it can also improve vision due to increased blood flow to the retina. But the question concerns only the clarity of the picture, and not farsightedness. You will see better in the dark, in fog or snow.
Finally
Is chocolate good for the brain? Of course yes! With it, you can stimulate brain activity, cheer yourself up and even improve your eyesight. To achieve a result, it is enough to allow yourself only 40-50 g of this delicacy every day. This amount will not harm the figure, and you will feel happy and full of energy!
Chocolate is the most delicious, fragrant and favorite treat for many of us.. Of course, in large quantities it can be harmful to the figure, but the beautiful half of chocolate lovers tries to forget about this so as not to spoil the pleasure, and, I must say, they do it right! After all, besides this, chocolate is also very, very useful.
However, today we will talk about how chocolate affects brain function. It is often said that chocolate promotes higher activity and is a good remedy for lack of sleep. It's true.
Moreover, this is confirmed not only by chocolate lovers, who discovered this property of their favorite dessert in practice, but also by respected researchers from the Reading Institute in England.
They did a very interesting test.
30 men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 agreed to this experiment, and this is what happened.
Their thought processes worked within the average range, none of them had any special intellectual inclinations or supernatural abilities.
So they were offered 40-50 grams of chocolate to track the effect of a fragrant dessert on brain activity.
It turned out that during the consumption of dark chocolate, their mental abilities increased by approximately 62–67%, which not only surprised, but also greatly pleased both the researchers and the participants in the experiment.
This effect lasted for about an hour., after which it began to gradually decrease and in three and a half hours the intellectual activity of the children became the same, exactly the same as before the experiment.
After some time, they were offered to taste the so beloved by many milk chocolate. And then it's time to get upset for those who love this sweet milk delicacy - the same portion of milk chocolate raised brain activity only by 20–25%, and The effect lasted less than two hours., after which the indicator of mental activity of the experiment participants returned to their previous positions.
On the one hand - the catastrophic injustice of nature, but on the other - everything in a jiffy explained scientifically.
Researched from Reading explained that brain activity is stimulated by increased blood flow to the brain, which is provided by an increase in the amount of flavanol in the body (flavanol is found in cocoa beans). In milk chocolate, these beneficial particles are much smaller, moreover, they are almost inactive, because they do not like the effects of milk, which is added (albeit in dry form) to each bar of milk chocolate.
During use milk chocolate mental activity increases exclusively thanks to carbohydrates, which also have the ability to stimulate the brain, although their effect is much lower, and for the figure they are, to be honest, dangerous.
but That's not all that scientists from Britain determined.
In addition to mental stimulation, flavanol, which is contained in cocoa, also improves eyesight, providing better blood flow to the retina. However, everything is a little more complicated here - thanks to chocolate, visual acuity does not improve (that is, you will not see further), but it is noticed clear improvement in visual clarity, especially useful in poor visibility– during twilight, in fog or snow.
