Study suggests eating dark chocolates will cut your stress and boosts memory
| Apr 26, 2018, 10:49 IST
As per a study, it is proven that consuming dark chocolate can reduce stress and inflammation, as well as improve memory, immunity, and mood. This is due to the high concentration of cacao which is a major source of flavonoids. The flavonoids found in cacao are extremely potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, with known mechanisms beneficial for brain and cardiovascular health, the researchers said.
"For years, we have looked at the influence of dark chocolate on neurological functions from the standpoint of sugar content -- the more sugar, the happier we are. This is the first time that we have looked at the impact of large amounts of cacao in doses as small as a regular-sized chocolate bar in humans over short or long periods of time, and are encouraged by the findings," said lead investigator Lee S. Berk, from Loma Linda University in California, US.
Further, dark chocolate was also found to affect human gene expression. It regulates cellular immune response, neural signalling, and sensory perception. Cacao consumption up-regulates multiple intracellular signalling pathways involved in T-cell activation, cellular immune response and genes involved in neural signalling and sensory perception -- the latter potentially associated with the phenomena of brain hyperplasticity.
"For years, we have looked at the influence of dark chocolate on neurological functions from the standpoint of sugar content -- the more sugar, the happier we are. This is the first time that we have looked at the impact of large amounts of cacao in doses as small as a regular-sized chocolate bar in humans over short or long periods of time, and are encouraged by the findings," said lead investigator Lee S. Berk, from Loma Linda University in California, US.
Further, dark chocolate was also found to affect human gene expression. It regulates cellular immune response, neural signalling, and sensory perception. Cacao consumption up-regulates multiple intracellular signalling pathways involved in T-cell activation, cellular immune response and genes involved in neural signalling and sensory perception -- the latter potentially associated with the phenomena of brain hyperplasticity.