Old Adages
There are a few old adages about
Chocolate
Who doesn’t love chocolate? There are a few different kinds, including milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate. This sweet treat is used to make many delicious desserts such as cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cakes, milkshakes, and candy bars. It seems as though people keep finding new ways to incorporate chocolate into different things, and each time, the results are delicious. People are even putting it in their pancakes, milk, and cereal.
University Of L’Aquila
A study on chocolate was performed at the University of L’Aquila in Italy. The researchers discovered that eating chocolate regularly can protect your brain from cognitive impairment.
Why?
What is it about chocolate that makes it so good for you? The study showed that chocolate is full of antioxidants and iron. While it has been a staple for many deserts for decades and great for anyone with a sweet tooth, it can also make you smarter. Chocolate is made with cocoa beans. These cocoa beans contain flavanols, which can have long-term positive effects on your brain.
Flavanols
According to the study, the flavanols in
Long-Term
The study shows that for you to reap any of the benefits chocolate, you would need to eat it regulatory on for a while to feel the effects on your brain. Over time, your brain will start functioning better, and your cognitive function will improve.
Frontiers in Nutrition
The head of the study, Valentina Socci, was the person who led the study. She later published the study in Frontiers in Nutrition. Socci says, “Regular intake of cocoa and chocolate could indeed provide beneficial effects on cognitive functioning over time; however, there are potential side effects of eating cocoa and chocolate.”
High In Calories
The problem with the frequent eating of chocolate is that it is high in calories. The central compounds of the cocoa beans are high in calories. When you combine this with the sugar and milk that we add, the number of calories increases drastically.
Additives
When the cocoa beans are made into chocolate, there are a number of additives included such as caffeine and theobromine. These additives aren’t that bad in small quantities, but in large ones, they can have potential side effects. Have you ever had too much caffeine? It makes your heart race and makes you jittery.
Cavities
Another problem with chocolate, the one that you heard about the most, is cavities. Most parents tell their children often that eating too much chocolate will cause their teeth to rot. This isn’t just something parents say like if you sit too close to the TV, you will go blind. This is true. Too much sugar will cause cavities and tooth decay.
No Guilt
The next time you decide to indulge your sweet tooth and have a piece of cake or a candy bar, don’t feel too guilty. Chocolate may be high in calories and bad for your teeth, but it will make you smarter. It will help you to remember important facts, it will help you concentrate better, and you can increase your overall brainpower. Finally, an excellent reason to eat chocolate. The next time you feel like having a glass of chocolate milk, a candy bar, or a nice piece of chocolate cake, don’t worry. You are helping your brain. This doesn’t mean that you should eat a diet of strictly chocolate, however. If you do, you will need to start worrying about your weight and the condition of your teeth. If you eat chocolate in moderation, you can enjoy all of the long-term effects that it offers, without dealing with any of the harmful side effects. Researchers are still studying the effects of chocolate and the way that it can prevent cognitive diseases in the future, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
