If you love chocolate, you already know eating it makes you happy. But did you know it’s also good for your brain? A recent study found that people who ate chocolate at least once a week tended to have improved cognitive function. Those who ate more chocolate scored better on tests of memory and abstract thinking.
Cocoa beans contain an antioxidant called cocoa flavanols that may actually reverse some cognitive decline and help the brain work under demanding circumstances. But if you’re going to eat chocolate for the brain benefits, don’t skimp on quality. Since it’s the cocoa beans that provide the protection for your brain, you want a chocolate that’s higher in cocoa butter. Inexpensive chocolates are often blended with wax and contain very little real cocoa butter. Inexpensive brands are also made with partially hydrogenated palm oil, preservatives, and high amounts of sugar, which are bad for your overall nutrition. Quality chocolate, on the other hand, is made using real cocoa butter, the finest organic cocoa beans, and minimal sugar, making it an overall healthier choice. To counteract the sugar, saturated fats, and artificial flavorings in commercial candy bars, many people have turned to buying chocolate in its raw, organic form and making their own sweets.