Dark chocolate may also improve the function of your brain. Studies show that eating high flavanol cocoa can improve blood flow to the brain in young adults. This may explain why eating cocoa daily appears to improve attention, verbal learning, and memory ( 17 ).
Dark chocolate may help relieve feelings of anxiety and irritability. There's a reason why so many of us reach for rich chocolate in moments of stress, depression, and even PMS. The fatty acid N-acylethanolamines found in dark chocolate provides euphoric effects, helping to relieve negative moods.
The answer, surprisingly, is that extra dark chocolate is GREAT for brain health. While pure cocoa is best, this may be too bitter for anyone with a sweet tooth, so a good rule of thumb is to go for chocolate that is 85% cocoa or more. Basically, the darker the chocolate, the better it is for your brain.
Dark chocolates
You can never have enough of dark chocolate and the best part is, it is good for you when you are preparing for exams, because it helps improve mental fatigue and boosts memory.
Milk and white chocolate: loaded with sugar and fat that trigger a dopamine fix.
Cocoa or dark chocolate may improve brain function by increasing blood flow. It also contains stimulants like caffeine and theobromine.
Chocolate containing 85 percent cocoa has the most serotonin, with 2.9 micrograms per gram, and chocolate containing 70 to 85 percent cocoa has the most of the serotonin precursor L-tryptophan, with 13.3 micrograms per gram, according to a study published in "Journal of Chromatography A" in April 2012.
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate may be an easy way to increase energy. Rich, dark chocolate usually has much less sugar than milk chocolate. Less sugar means less immediate energy, but more cocoa content means more of the benefits of cocoa, including helpful antioxidants such as flavonoids.
Thus, eating chocolate can make your blood circulation better, enhance blood flow and improve your circulatory and cardiovascular systems. Drinking hot cocoa can also contribute to your well-being. It can give your brain a boost and clear the fog.
Chocolate improves focus and memory.
With a small dose of caffeine, chocolate can improve concentration without pumping up your adrenaline.
Lindt dark chocolate is the OG of healthy supermarket desserts – high in heart-friendly flavonoids and low in sugar. The higher the percentage of cocoa the less sweet stuff you'll find in the fine print, with the 85% cocoa option only containing 2.2 grams of sugar per serve.
Dark chocolate
Incorporating some dark chocolate into your diet may also help ease anxiety. Dark chocolate contains flavonols, such as epicatechin and catechin, which are plant compounds that act as antioxidants.
New research finds that dark chocolate lowers the risk of depression.
Dark chocolate contains psychoactive ingredients that produce feel-good results; one is phenylethylamine, a neuromodulator that helps regulate mood. Plus, dark chocolate contains a higher concentration of antioxidants that reduce inflammation, a condition linked to the onset of depression.
Nuts like almonds, pistachios and macadamias each bring something special to the table. Almonds help improve memory, pistachio nut oils help preserve fatty acids and prevent inflammation, and macadamias contribute to normal brain function.
1. Lindt & Sprungli. Last but definitely not least, our top spot chocolate goes to Swiss chocolate brand Lindt.
You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should be eaten on an empty stomach or 30 minutes after a solid-food meal. They can also be eaten as a snack between lunch and dinner.
Cocoa (the primary ingredient used to make chocolates), according to various studies, triggers the brain to release endorphins, the “feel good” hormones. However, dark chocolate triggers maximum endorphin release. This is unlike milk chocolate, its creamier counterpart.