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We’ll drink to this: Hot chocolate makes you a smarter, faster thinker, new research shows.
In a study of 18 men, researchers at the University of Birmingham found that consuming cocoa improved participants’ ability to quickly solve a series of complex mental tests.
The team attributed the increased sharpness – including the fact that subjects completed tests up to 11% faster – to the brain-stimulating compound flavanol, which is found naturally in chocolate, according to the study, published Tuesday in the journal Scientific Reports.
“We used cocoa in our experiment, but flavanols are extremely common in a wide range of fruits and vegetables,” said lead author of the report, Catarina Rendeiro. “It also suggests that flavanols could be particularly beneficial during cognitively demanding tasks.”
During the study, the researchers tracked how the participants, all in good health and between the ages of 18 and 40, responded to brain teasing tests before and after sipping the sugary drink.
The team found that after drinking hot chocolate, participants’ blood oxygenation levels increased threefold and their test times and accuracy rates improved.
They also found that each participant’s performance improved when researchers added extra flavanol to normal hot chocolate, according to the study, which notes that brain power is linked to oxygen levels.
“We can relate this to our results on improving blood oxygenation – if you’re challenged more, your brain needs improved blood oxygen levels to handle that challenge,” said Rendeiro.
“By better understanding the cognitive benefits of consuming these food groups… we can offer people enhanced advice on how to get the most from their food choices.. “
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