topic Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today in Wellness

😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

newziesuzie — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:44:54 GMT

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/306914.php

"If you're looking for an excuse to chomp that bar of chocolate calling your name, then look no further; a new study suggests eating chocolate at least once weekly may boost cognitive function.

Dr. Georgie Crichton, of the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre at the University of South Australia, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal Appetite.

While chocolate is still perceived as an indulgent treat, studies have increasingly documented the potential health benefits of habitual consumption.

Earlier this month, for example, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that eating chocolate daily during pregnancy may benefit fetal growth and development, while an earlier study claims daily chocolate consumption may lower risk of stroke and heart disease.

But how does chocolate intake impact cognitive function? This is what Dr. Crichton and colleagues set out to determine, noting that there is lack of information in this area.

"Little is known about the relationship between chocolate and cognitive functioning or brain health," Dr. Crichton told MNT.

"Most of the studies to date have focused on the acute effects of chocolate or cocoa consumption - i.e. consume a chocolate bar/cocoa-rich drink and assess immediate performance. We wanted to examine habitual or normal consumption with cognitive performance."

Better cognitive performance with chocolate intake at least once weekly

The researchers analyzed the data of 968 people aged 23-98 who were free of dementia and part of the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS), which was led by study coauthor Prof. Merrill Elias, of the University of Maine.

The team analyzed the chocolate intake of participants over a 30-year period, as determined by information from a food frequency questionnaire.

The questionnaire asked subjects how often they ate chocolate: never, rarely, once a week, two to four times a week, five to six times a week or once or more each day.

The cognitive function of participants was assessed through a series of tasks that tested visual-spatial memory and organization (the ability to understand and remember spatial relations among objects), working memory (the ability to process new and existing information), verbal memory (the ability to remember words and other factors related to language) and scanning and tracking (the ability to focus on specific objects).

The researchers found that individuals who consumed chocolate at least once a week performed significantly better on all cognitive tasks, compared with those who never or rarely ate chocolate.

After accounting for other possible confounding factors - including subjects' age, sex, education, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood glucose levels, alcohol intake and total calorie intake - the findings remained, with the exception of working memory.

Benefits 'may not be restricted to dark chocolate'

Dr. Crichton told MNT that they were not surprised by the results, explaining that cocoa contains flavanols that improve blood flow to the brain, and chocolate also contains small amounts of caffeine, which can boost alertness.

While the majority of previous studies assessing the health benefits of chocolate have focused on dark chocolate, due to its rich flavanol content, the researchers note that their study included participants who consumed dark, milk and white chocolate. "Our findings indicate that benefits may not be restricted to dark varieties," said Dr. Crichton.

It is important to note, however, that chocolate has a high fat and sugar content, which can lead to weight gain if consumed in excess amounts, raising the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

But based on their findings, the team says chocolate may be beneficial in moderation as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Dr. Crichton told MNT:

"We would recommend that a small intake of chocolate once or twice weekly may be incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet. And for those of us who prefer milk chocolate over dark, this may be good news."

Last year, MNT investigated the

other ways in which chocolate may be good for us.

Read "Chocolate: is it really good for our health?" at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295615.php

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

AuberriJean — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:27:39 GMT

Lol! I knew it was good for us!

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

20sally — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:20:09 GMT

Big smile for chocolate!

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

qualitygal — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:07:24 GMT

I knew it!! That and peanut butter are in their own food groups.

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

dooBdoo — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 13:43:20 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
I knew it!! That and peanut butter are in their own food groups.

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

Winkk — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:24:46 GMT

newziesuzie w

Dr. Crichton told MNT:
"We would recommend that a small intake of chocolate once or twice weekly may be incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet. And for those of us who prefer milk chocolate over dark, this may be good news."

Last year, MNT investigated the
other ways in which chocolate may be good for us.
Read "Chocolate: is it really good for our health?" at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295615.php

Yeah, I knew I was eating healthy. But, once or twice a week? This is a daily nutrient for me.

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

newziesuzie — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:10:50 GMT

@Winkk wrote:
newziesuzie w

Dr. Crichton told MNT:
"We would recommend that a small intake of chocolate once or twice weekly may be incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet. And for those of us who prefer milk chocolate over dark, this may be good news."

Last year, MNT investigated the
other ways in which chocolate may be good for us.
Read "Chocolate: is it really good for our health?" at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295615.php

Yeah, I knew I was eating healthy. But, once or twice a week? This is a daily nutrient for me.

Lol!

Thanks for your posts @Winkk @dooBdoo @qualitygal @20sally @AuberriJean!

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

AuberriJean — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 18:31:42 GMT

@Winkk wrote:
newziesuzie w

Dr. Crichton told MNT:
"We would recommend that a small intake of chocolate once or twice weekly may be incorporated into a healthy, balanced diet. And for those of us who prefer milk chocolate over dark, this may be good news."

Last year, MNT investigated the
other ways in which chocolate may be good for us.
Read "Chocolate: is it really good for our health?" at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295615.php

Yeah, I knew I was eating healthy. But, once or twice a week? This is a daily nutrient for me.

Lol! Daily nutrition for me too @Winkk!

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

newziesuzie — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 23:17:04 GMT

It's interesting to see this

study isn't challenged by anyone here

but I posted in Community

Chat about a new Splenda study

and evidently that one is controversy.

😄🤔😄

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

OnlyShopsOnline — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 02:15:12 GMT

Chocolate may be good for our brains, but it will end up giving us lung cancer.........I can't listen to these studies anymore.

For instance, we've always been told that cheese is bad for our hearts. Then, last week I read an article which stated that women, who eat cheese, live longer.

You can't win, lol.

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

sidsmom — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 16:47:44 GMT

@newziesuzie

Of course it's not going to be challenged.

Reporting "chocolate for health' is silly.

It's like saying...potato chips are healthy.

Chocolate bars & potato chips are very much alike.

Both start off with very innocent beginnings...the humble potato & cocoa.

Both are injected w/ either salt (potato) or sugar (chocolate)...and LARGE amounts of fat (over 50% of the finished product is fat).

Salt-Oil-Sugar is the holy trinity of Food Addiction.

These studies will forever exist.

"People want to hear good things about their bad habits."

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

ROMARY — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:55:51 GMT

As I've said quite a few times here, I sure know and have known a lot of folks who are 90+ who have, for many years, loved their chocolates!

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

qualitygal — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:55:08 GMT

Well of course it does!!!

We need one of those little emo's that does thumbs up! Miss that kind.

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

cotton4me — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:38:49 GMT

This is my favorite and it's 86% cacao. Each square only has one gram of sugar. I always kept a bag in my desk when I was working When the afternoon slump occurred I would eat two squares and be good to go. Now that I'm retired I keep a bag in the pantry for those occasional chocolate fixes.

Re: 😃Chocolate may boost cognitive function-Medical News Today

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:51:23 GMT

I'm probably the only one in the whole wide world that doesn't care for chocolate. I'll eat it, but don't enjoy it.