Could Drinking Hot Cocoa Improve Brain Functioning?

Everybody enjoys a nice cup of cocoa, and thanks to a recent study, come to find out that drinking this drink may actually help improve brain function. 

According to researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, the result could help provide a greater supply of oxygen and sugar from the blood to the brain.

Yet, Dr. Farzaneh Sorond, the lead study author, also cautions that researchers are still far from determining whether these chocolate-y findings provide absolute assurance for better blood flow to the brain, especially in the elderly or those who may be suffering from diseases that harm circulation.

"We're several steps removed from that recommendation," said Sorond, via Reuters.

People suffering from certain diseases may be affected by the high blood pressure or even diabetes of an impaired flow of blood to the brain.

Researchers looked at whether drinking hot chocolate high in flavanols could help improve thinking in those with these conditions, recruiting  60 people who were an average of 73 years old to be separated into one of two groups.

Study results showed that eating chocolate rich in the plant compound did help lower blood pressure and helped result in fewer strokes, overall.

One group was told to drink two cups of flavanol-rich chocolate every day for a month while the other drank low-flavanol hot chocolate. All participants were told to not eat or drink any other chocolate during the study period of one month.

While final study results showed no differences in blood flow or scores on thinking tests between the two groups during the beginning of the study or after one month, the combined cocoa groups compared with poor blood flow to the brain from both periods showed that those with poor blood flow saw an improvement in blood circulation to the brain.

However, study authors warn that more studies would need to be conducted in order to determine a clear link between drinking hot cocoa and improved blood flow to the brain.

More information regarding the study can be found in the journal Neurology.