Dark chocolate may be nature’s perfect superfood

( Natural News ) Many of us are willing to suffer through eating some of the less-delicious foods out there in the name of good health – Brussels sprouts, anyone? – but there are a few cases where we really can have it all, and dark chocolate is one of those foods that tastes great while being remarkably beneficial. In fact, it may just be nature’s perfect superfood. Interestingly, chocolate has been treated more like an indulgence in recent times, something that people eat as a pick-me-up on a bad day or as a reward or celebration. But that idea is beginning to shift as more studies emerge indicating its tremendous power in enhancing your health in several important ways. Brain health For example, some studies show that dark chocolate might make you smarter . That’s right: Seniors who consumed dark chocolate in a study earned significantly higher scores on cognition tests and had a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Meanwhile, double-blind studies have shown that it increases processing speed, working memory, language and executive function in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment – a significant finding when you consider that no drugs currently exist to effectively treat the condition. It’s not just the elderly who can benefit; college students who ate dark chocolate noted significantly higher scores on memory tests. Heart health Heart health is a top concern today given its prevalence and the unhealthy lifestyles of modern times, but now researchers are finding that dark chocolate can be a lifesaver in this regard. When studies showed that the flavanol in chocolate raised nitric oxide levels, helping blood vessels dilate, scientists started to take a closer look into its heart benefits, and there are plenty. It can prevent coronary heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease, in addition to protecting […]

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