Need to Boost Your Brain Power? Try Chocolate

Looking for an excuse to satiate your sweet tooth? Well, you're in luck - especially if you're a chocolate lover.

And if you're an American--there's a good chance you are--Americans consume 3 billion pounds of chocolate each year! That is a lot of chocolate, however, Switzerland is still top of the list with a consumption of 9.1 kg per person per year, followed by us Germans with 8.4 kg per person per year.

Yes, it sounds too good be true. But there is a lot of evidence out there that shows that consuming chocolate in moderate amounts (key word-moderate) can help boost your brain power!

Let's take a look at some of the top proven brain power benefits of chocolate (best done while nibbling on some chocolates). 

Protect Against Free Radical Damage

Turns out, your brain loves oxygen, maybe just as much as you love chocolate.

Unfortunately, this love makes it highly susceptible to free radicals: unattached oxygen molecules that attack your cells and cause premature brain cell aging. 

Luckily, there's protection out there to keep these free radicals at bay. This protection comes in the form of antioxidants, which help to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals.

And you know what food contains antioxidants? Chocolate! Cocoa powder contains more antioxidants than other superfoods like acai, blueberry, and pomegranate powders. 

Sharpen Your Memory and Focus

Chocolate isn't just rich in any antioxidant, it's rich in flavonoids-an antioxidant that works to penetrate in the brain regions involved with learning and memory. 

A recent study published proves chocolate's memory boosting powers even further. 

This 30-year study monitored the chocolate consumption of 968 participants, ages 23-98. The study measured verbal memory, working memory, and visual-spatial memory. 

And the results were a big win for chocolate lovers. Those who consumed chocolate at least once a week performed better on cognitive memory tasks than their nonchocolate counterparts.

Get That Blood Flowin'

Those flavonoids are at it again. Not only do the flavonoids contained in chocolate help boost memory, they also help boost blood flow. One study found that drinking two cups of hot chocolate increased blood flow to the brain for 2-3 hours. This boost in brain circulation led to a 30 percent improvement on a memory test! This increased blood flow could also help boost short-term memory as well as prevent mental decline in seniors. 

A Lifetime Guarantee

Looking for a present for grandma that is both good for her health and enjoyable? Chocolate here once again for the win. Chocolate can help fight strokes and brain-related illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer's. Just recently, Britain jumped on the chocolate-loving, dementia-fighting train. A new dementia-fighting pill made entirely from chocolate hit the country's shelves recently, thanks to the piling evidence of chocolate's super powers. 

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Just chill out man- with some chocolate. Chocolate boosts the production of endorphins-feel-good chemicals that give you that "runner's high." It also packs in a good amount of magnesium, an essential mineral for reducing stress. 

Time to 'Unwrap' Some Brain Power 

Now that you know all about chocolate's awesome brain power benefits, it's probably time to start eating some chocolate, eh? (She says with a pile of wrappers next to her). 

But don't just pick any ol' chocolate-your brain deserves the best! Take a look at our finest selection of bars, spread, drinks, and nougats. 

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