Tasty News!

*Katie* · 05-25-2006, 06:46 PM

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Chocolate lovers rejoice. A new study hints that eating milk chocolate may boost brain function.

"Chocolate contains many substances that act as stimulants, such as theobromine, phenethylamine, and caffeine," Dr. Bryan Raudenbush from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia noted in comments to Reuters Health.

"These substances by themselves have previously been found to increase alertness and attention and what we have found is that by consuming chocolate you can get the stimulating effects, which then lead to increased mental performance."

To study the effects of various chocolate types on brain power, Raudenbush and colleagues had a group of volunteers consume, on four separate occasions, 85 grams of milk chocolate; 85 grams of dark chocolate; 85 grams of carob; and nothing (the control condition).

After a 15-minute digestive period, participants completed a variety of computer-based neuropsychological tests designed to assess cognitive performance including memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving.

"Composite scores for verbal and visual memory were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the other conditions," Raudenbush told Reuters. And consumption of milk and dark chocolate was associated with improved impulse control and reaction time.

Previous research has shown that some nutrients in food aid in glucose release and increased blood flow, which may augment cognitive performance. The current findings, said Raudenbush, "provide support for nutrient release via chocolate consumption to enhance cognitive performance."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eat more chocolate and get smart! I can definitely live with that

*Sewer Bull* · 05-26-2006, 02:29 AM

Strange... I think I've already known that fact for years... And now they announce it as a really big and groundbreaking news.

*Storm Wolf* · 05-26-2006, 08:52 AM

OMG!! This is great news! I looove chocolate, and now studies have shown it's even good for you! YAY!

KROW occaionally picks on me because I like chocolate so much.

*runs off to tell KROW the news*

OA · 05-26-2006, 09:49 AM

Sweet!!! And they say that everything that tastes good is probably bad for you... IN YO FACE!! (except for the whole fat content, calories, etc. crap

)

05-26-2006, 11:04 AM

Err... This can't be good...

Now everyone is going to be gorging on chocolate. And when six months pass by and they've gained 50 pounds, they'll probably wonder why...

Remember, people... All things in moderation.

05-25-2006, 06:46 PM	#1
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	Tasty News! NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Chocolate lovers rejoice. A new study hints that eating milk chocolate may boost brain function. "Chocolate contains many substances that act as stimulants, such as theobromine, phenethylamine, and caffeine," Dr. Bryan Raudenbush from Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia noted in comments to Reuters Health. "These substances by themselves have previously been found to increase alertness and attention and what we have found is that by consuming chocolate you can get the stimulating effects, which then lead to increased mental performance." To study the effects of various chocolate types on brain power, Raudenbush and colleagues had a group of volunteers consume, on four separate occasions, 85 grams of milk chocolate; 85 grams of dark chocolate; 85 grams of carob; and nothing (the control condition). After a 15-minute digestive period, participants completed a variety of computer-based neuropsychological tests designed to assess cognitive performance including memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving. "Composite scores for verbal and visual memory were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the other conditions," Raudenbush told Reuters. And consumption of milk and dark chocolate was associated with improved impulse control and reaction time. Previous research has shown that some nutrients in food aid in glucose release and increased blood flow, which may augment cognitive performance. The current findings, said Raudenbush, "provide support for nutrient release via chocolate consumption to enhance cognitive performance." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eat more chocolate and get smart! I can definitely live with that __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

05-26-2006, 02:29 AM	#2
Sewer Bull Devil's Advocate Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,768	Strange... I think I've already known that fact for years... And now they announce it as a really big and groundbreaking news. __________________ Soooo... THIS* is how you spend your free time now?!*

05-26-2006, 09:49 AM	#4
OA Scatter the nuns!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,981	Sweet!!! And they say that everything that tastes good is probably bad for you... IN YO FACE!! (except for the whole fat content, calories, etc. crap ) __________________

05-26-2006, 11:04 AM	#5
Ryona Guest Posts: n/a	Err... This can't be good... Now everyone is going to be gorging on chocolate. And when six months pass by and they've gained 50 pounds, they'll probably wonder why... Remember, people... All things in moderation.