Sometimes we search so hard for ways to improve our health we overlook the healing powers of the soothing wonder drink right in our hands. Drinkable chocolate was used as a medicinal drink by Mesoamerican civilizations far back in 600 B.C. According to an article published by the National Institutes of Health, the beneficial uses of cacao and chocolate are a recent rediscovery and one we should not ignore.
Indeed, it is, especially if your drink is made from dark chocolate or cocoa powder! Scientists at Harvard Medical School suggest that drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day may help keep the brain healthy and prevent memory decline in older people. The researchers said that hot chocolate can help preserve blood flow in working areas of the brain.
The lead author, Farzaneh A. Sorond, said:
"As different areas of the brain need more energy to their tasks, they also need greater blood flow. This relationship, called neurovascular coupling,
may play an important role in diseases such as Alzheimer's."
Another note about eating dark chocolate is that some studies have suggested that the best time to eat your chocolate is in the evening or as a dessert item with your late meal. This is because the effects of the phytonutrients in dark chocolate can help all of us with our long-term memory retention.
Basically everything we experience throughout our day is stored in our short-term memory. When we sleep our brains somehow transfers (down loads) all that short-term memory into our long-term memory storage. The effects of the dark chocolate eaten (or in a liquid) in the evening is that it somehow assists in the transfer of the information into long-term storage.
One study had participants spend an hour looking at various photographs. A week later they were asked to recount what was in the photos they were shown. The group had some people eat no chocolate at all, some eat it in the morning and some eat it in the evening.
Researchers found that everyone eating the dark chocolate gained some benefit in memory retention but those eating their “memory pills” in the evening retained information much more accurately then all others. Many participants did over 50% better!
Here are more benefits of enjoying chocolate:
- 1. Mood lifting - here’s a reason the French used drinkable chocolate to boost foul moods and fend off bouts of rage. It contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant and triggers the production of endorphins that make people feel pleasure. Plus the high concentration of antioxidants calms rising stress hormones. These effects are compounded when dark chocolate is melted into a drink because heat releases significantly more antioxidants.
- 2. Cancer preventative - A Cornell study found a cup of cocoa offers twice as many cancer-fighting antioxidants as a glass of red wine and as much as three times more than a cup of green tea. Researchers attribute this abundance to higher levels of flavonoids. Researchers also advise we drink a cup in the morning, saving tea and wine for later. Can you think of a better way to start the day?
- 3. Kind to diabetics - Enjoy a small indulgence without worrying about glucose levels. To make, use dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder and a small amount of honey, about a teaspoon per cup, as your sweetener. Melt in milk and the resulting drink will taste like joy. It contains about 600 milligrams of an antioxidant called gallic acid, which is used to treat diabetes. Healthy fats in dark cocoa help blood absorb sugar slowly, which prevents insulin spikes.
- 4. Improves blood flow - Cocoa’s flavonoids aid the body in processing nitric oxide. This prevents blood clots by making platelets less sticky and improves blood flow, which in turn lowers blood pressure and helps the heart stay healthy. That’s a lot of wins. Not to mention these anti-clotting, blood-thinning capabilities significantly reduce your risk of having a stroke.
- 5. Stimulates the mind - Increased blood flow throughout the body means an increase of oxygen to the brain. Drink a cup of hot chocolate and your mind will be sharper. According to the American Association of Advancement of Science, researchers believe drinking cocoa helps stave off dementia and helps treat those who already have it.
- 6. Reduces risk of heart disease - The CDC reports heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States. 1 out of every 4 deaths is due to heart disease. One way to lower your risk is consume about 1 ounce of dark chocolate a day. It reduces inflammation and floods your body with flavonoids and antioxidants that protect from free radicals linked to heart disease and certain cancers. In winter, get your daily dose of protection in a mug.
- 7. Weight loss - Will Clower, PH.D. neuroscientist and author of the book Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight says having chocolate five minutes after a meal or 20 minutes prior reduces your appetite by as much as 50 percent. The key here is moderation. Consuming a small quantity of dark cocoa satiates the appetite and, since it prevents insulin spikes, keeps the body’s fat-burning ability going strong.
- 8. Strengthens Teeth - You read that right. Finally a dessert that’s good for your teeth in multiple ways. The tannins in cocoa contain oxalic acid, which lowers acid production and reduces plaque growth. This prevents tooth decay as long you practice good dental hygiene every day. In addition, dark hot cocoa contains theobromine, known to harden enamel and help prevent discoloration.
- 9. Protects skin - Your morning mug of dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids, much loved for increasing the skin’s hydration and improving complexion. They also absorb harmful UV light, protecting you from skin cancer (but don’t forget to wear sunscreen).
- 10. High in Vitamins and Minerals - Dark cocoa is rich in potassium, copper, magnesium, iron and other important vitamins and minerals. These support good health and protect you from anemia, type 2 diabetes and dangerous heart problems.