Chocolate is a range of foods derived from cocoa (cacao), mixed with fat (i.e., cocoa butter) and finely powdered sugar to produce a solid confectionery. There are several types of chocolate, classified according to the proportion of cocoa used in a particular formulation.
Dark chocolate, also called plain chocolate or black chocolate, is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It is chocolate with no milk or much less than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate can be eaten as is, or used in cooking, for which thicker, baking bars, usually with high cocoa percentages ranging from 70% to 99% are sold. Dark is synonymous with semisweet, and extra dark with bittersweet, although the ratio of cocoa butter to solids may vary.
It’s no secret that high-quality dark chocolate and cacao basically have superpowers. And now new research indicates the sweet stuff not only makes you feel better, but also may actually be good for your brain.
According to data gathered from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study and published in the journal Appetite earlier this month, eating chocolate is positively associated with cognitive brain function.
The researchers found that those who engaged in habitual chocolate eating were found to have stronger cognitive performance on visual-spatial memory, working memory, and abstract reasoning tests. In other words, your love of cacao truffles might be the reason why you dominate Words With Friends.
But don’t go breaking off a piece of that Kit Kat bar just yet.
Chocolate’s positive effects are largely due to its cocoa flavanols, which are most prominent in dark chocolate, Medical Daily reports. Milk and white chocolate, on the other hand, have significantly fewer flavanols. So although the study didn’t differentiate between chocolate types (or quantity), it’s safe to assume your best bet is to stick with the dark stuff.
Dark chocolate as a sweet treat? More like brain food.
Dark chocolate, also called plain chocolate or black chocolate, is produced by adding fat and sugar to cocoa. It is chocolate with no milk or much less than milk chocolate. Dark chocolate can be eaten as is, or used in cooking, for which thicker, baking bars, usually with high cocoa percentages ranging from 70% to 99% are sold. Dark is synonymous with semisweet, and extra dark with bittersweet, although the ratio of cocoa butter to solids may vary.
It’s no secret that high-quality dark chocolate and cacao basically have superpowers. And now new research indicates the sweet stuff not only makes you feel better, but also may actually be good for your brain.
According to data gathered from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study and published in the journal Appetite earlier this month, eating chocolate is positively associated with cognitive brain function.
The researchers found that those who engaged in habitual chocolate eating were found to have stronger cognitive performance on visual-spatial memory, working memory, and abstract reasoning tests. In other words, your love of cacao truffles might be the reason why you dominate Words With Friends.
But don’t go breaking off a piece of that Kit Kat bar just yet.
Chocolate’s positive effects are largely due to its cocoa flavanols, which are most prominent in dark chocolate, Medical Daily reports. Milk and white chocolate, on the other hand, have significantly fewer flavanols. So although the study didn’t differentiate between chocolate types (or quantity), it’s safe to assume your best bet is to stick with the dark stuff.
Dark chocolate as a sweet treat? More like brain food.