BRAIN BOX OF CHOCS

‘Cocoa fans smarter’

DON’T fret if you piled on pounds hitting the selection boxes at Christmas – you may have become a genius.

Scientists now think scoffing chocolate can make you smarter.

They found increased consumption of flavanols – molecules that are abundant in cocoa beans – improve your “mental agility”.

A University of Birmingham team gave test subjects hot chocolate containing lots of flavanols.

And they found they were able to complete cognitive tasks more efficiently than when given an ordinary warm drink.

Flavanols are a type of plant nutrient that also occur naturally in tea, red wine, blueberries, apples, pears, cherries and peanuts.

Lead researcher Dr Catarina Rendeiro said: “We used cocoa in our experiment, but flavanols are extremely common in a wide range of fruit and vegetables.”

Flavanols are known to have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health.

But this is the first time the effects were investigated. Dr Rendeiro added: “By better understanding the cognitive benefits of eating these food groups, as well as the wider cardiovascular benefits, we can offer improved guidance to people about how to make the most of their dietary choices.”

The study also found those who consumed a flavanol-rich drink had seen a “faster and greater” increase in blood oxygenation levels, which boosts brain function.

Chocolate has had a lot of bad press because of its high fat and sugar content.

Eating too much of it has long been associated with acne, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

But scientists have found that eating a decent-quality bar of chocolate can bring with it a number of health benefits.

Munching some chocs can lower your cholesterol levels, prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.

So maybe it’s time to crack open that tin of Celebrations...