Did you know that chocolate, real chocolate, the one without all the cream, sugar, and preservatives, is not only delicious and satisfying, but also good for your brain? Harvard University’s blog says so, and they have a good reason. According to statistics and research, the countries that eat the most chocolate, also have the most Nobel Prize recipients. This study and its findings were published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
Could it be possible that intelligence and the functioning of your brain could correlate with how much good chocolate you are eating, or is this finding simply a coincidence? Studies are still being conducted to see if this is a truth or a coincidence, so right now, the New England Journal of Medicine leaves us unsure.
Although there are no solid answers, many people today have realized the health benefits of chocolate through other sources of research over the last decade and we do know that chocolate carries certain compounds that are healthy for our diet. Many researchers say it’s a piece of dark chocolate a day that may keep the doctor away. As with any healthy food, they must also be combined with an otherwise healthy diet and lifestyle. Hearing about chocolate actually affecting your level of intelligence and brain functioning is still new.
As we age, our brain is subject to many different forms of illness and disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia are just two of the ways our brains can suffer from the effects of aging. So any study that focuses on what is good and healthy for high level brain functioning is worth listening to, though there are still no solid conclusions. However, the studies do still go on and one day soon in the future we will know if chocolate really does have a positive affect on the brain or if this Noble Peace Prize study is just a coincidence.
There are preventative methods that help keep your brain functioning at a normal level as you age, and that is of course, a generally healthy lifestyle, exercise, study, reading, even crossword puzzles are a huge help. All things in moderation also helps, such as drinking alcohol, eating dessert maybe only one or two nights a week. Paying attention to your diet and filling in the gaps when needed, like getting enough fruits and vegetables, and also taking in enough fiber.
Even if in a study in the near future, we get a resounding “yes” for the question, “is chocolate good for your brain functioning?”, we must still live as healthily as possible as the time goes by and we begin the aging process. The earlier you can start thinking about and taking care of your health, the better off you will be when you get there, brain and all.
Source: Harvard Medical School: Your Brain on Chocolate