We all love chocolate, and it is always great news to find out that it can boost health in many ways. Dark chocolate slows memory loss and improves cognitive function.
According to the lead study author Saverio Stranges, a visiting academic at the Warwick Medical School:
“Given the growing body of evidence, including our own study, cocoa-based products may represent an additional dietary recommendation to improve cardio-metabolic health.”
The researchers found that hot chocolate helped improve blood flow to parts of the brain where it was needed.
Lead author, Farzaneh A. Sorond, said:
“As different areas of the brain need more energy to complete their tasks, they also need greater blood flow. This relationship, called neurovascular coupling, may play an important role in diseases such as Alzheimer’s.”
According to HealthLine:
“A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa contains:
- 11 grams of fiber
- 67% of the RDI for iron
- 58% of the RDI for magnesium
- 89% of the RDI for copper
- 98% of the RDI for manganese
- It also has plenty of potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium
- 1 cup raw cacao
- 1/2 cup organic, cold-pressed coconut oil
- 1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- A handful of almonds, chopped into slivers (optional)
