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A Little Bit of What You FancyA study of over 2,000 elderly men and women has found that consumption of chocolate, wine, and tea is linked to superior cognitive performance- providing yet more evidence that some indulgences are positively good for you.
Participants who consumed all 3 foods had the best test scores and the lowest risk of poor test performance. The associations between intake of the foodstuffs and cognition were dose dependent, with maximum effect at intakes amounting to approximately 10 g/d for chocolate and approximately 75-100 mL/d for wine.
Click here to view the abstract of the study.
So what is in chocolate, wine and tea?
Dark chocolate with a high content of cocoa is a rich source of flavonoids, chemicals in plants that act in the body as anti-oxidants (substances that neutralise damaging, reactive substances known as free radicals). The particular flavonoids of interest in cocoa are called catechins and epicatechins. Dark chocolate consumption has been associated with cardiovascular health; it appears to increase the production of nitric oxide, a gas which profoundly affects cardiovascular function and brain activity. Chose quality chocolate with a cocoa content of 70% or greater for maximum benefit. Tea is similarly rich in flavonoids; green tea drinking has long been associated with good health and chronic disease prevention.
Red wine is rich in a substance known as resveratrol, which has been studied for its potential to prevent cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Alcohol however must be consumed in moderation, ideally as part of a balanced meal; 2-3 units a day (1-2 glasses of wine) for women and 3-4 units for men is the suggest maximum intake.
This latest study adds to the growing body of evidence that consuming antioxidant rich, natural foods is one key to maintaining health; red wine, dark chocolate and tea might not sound like health foods but, when consumed as part of a balanced diet, they have a powerful positive impact. |