Can Chocolate Boost Mental Health?
is particularly affected by aging and therefore the potential source of age-related memory decline in humans.”
Between Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter and your general sugary cravings, chocolate sales continue to rise each year. In 2017, chocolate sales in the United States soared past $22.4 billion. While Americans tend to overindulge when it comes to chocolate, research suggests that, when enjoyed in moderation, your favorite treat may hold the key to preventing mental decline. A study from the University of L’Aquila in Italy looked into how flavonols, a chemical compound found in cacao beans, affect cognition. Head researchers Valentina Socci and Michele Ferrara noted that consuming flavonoid-rich cocoa — particularly dark chocolate — enhanced memory performance, attention, processing speed and verbal fluency in older participants. “This result suggests the potential of cocoa flavanols to protect cognition in vulnerable populations over time by improving cognitive performance,” researchers explained. “If you look at the underlying mechanism, the cocoa flavonols have beneficial effects for cardiovascular health and can increase cerebral blood volume in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. This structure
TESTIMONIALS At October Kitchen, our mission is to provide delicious, nourishing meals. In doing so, we hope to help our clients lead healthy and independent lives. Nothing fills our hearts more than to know we’ve succeeded in our goal when we hear such kind words from our clients. The research is promising, but it’s not a green light to eat an entire box of discount chocolate the day after Valentine’s Day. The high levels of calories, caffeine and sugar found in chocolate aren’t good for you. However, if you’re craving something sweet after dinner or need a midday pick-me-up, feel free to treat yourself to a small square of dark chocolate. It might make you a little healthier. “My mom and dad have faced some serious health issues in the past few years, which has limited their ability to prepare healthy meals for themselves. The meals are fresh, well-balanced and easy to heat. There is always a great variety available and the fact that they deliver makes it such a great option for my parents. I feel better knowing that they have a hot meal every night and a few tucked away in the freezer! The staff is always ready to answer questions when my mom calls. I recommend this service to anyone who worries that their folks might not be eating as healthy as they could be. Thanks, October Kitchen!” “We have been with October Kitchen for over four years. That in itself should tell you something. We order essentially every week we are home. The meals are excellent, tasty and wholesome. The menu changes, but there are specials that we look forward to, like Candy Cane blondies, mango muffins, stuffed peppers, tortilla lasagna, eggplant anything and pulled pork. I love everything. We also stash meals in the freezer and take them to work for lunch. The food is not over salted, so you can salt to your taste. Worth a try, especially for a busy household with kids!” –Lisa M. Chocolate lovers will be delighted to learn that this isn’t the first time science has concluded that chocolate may be good for your health. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported bioactive compounds found in cocoa and dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow; a Canadian study involving almost 45,000 people determined individuals who ate chocolate were 22 percent less likely to suffer a stroke; and research published in the British Medical Journal found that chocolate consumption may be linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
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