The cat's been out of the bag for some time now that chocolate actually can be part of a healthy diet. Of course, it all depends on what kind of chocolate you eat and what other ingredients are present. For example, an extra dark minimally sweetened organic chocolate bar is worlds apart from a bag of M&M's. Here's another reason to eat chocolate.
Among chocolate's many benefits, it's the high levels of antioxidants that make it such a superstar. They've got immune-boosting effects that can help prevent the common cold and more serious diseases. Chocolate is good for the heart too, thanks to all the magnesium present. It's also a definite mood booster, even in the highly diluted and sugared-up M&M's, some of that chocolate magic still trickles through. And there may be even more reason to add a little chocolate to your diet as recent research connects it to higher cognitive function.
Read more about how the right foods can influence your mood
ScientificAmerican reports that a study conducted in Italy (which included scientists from chocolate manufacturer, Mars, Inc.) looked at elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to the deadly Alzheimer's disease. The study's subjects who drank a flavanol-rich chocolate beverage every day for eight weeks showed greater cognitive improvement than subjects who consumed beverages with lower levels of flavanols-naturally occurring compounds in chocolate. The researchers conducted three separate tests that looked at verbal fluency, visual searching and attention. 
While more research is needed, the scientists think the flavanol (-)-epicatechin (pronounced “minus epicatechin") may be responsible for the changes in brain activity. It has already been linked to improved circulation, which can impact cognitive function as more blood flowing to the brain means more oxygen is delivered. And ScientificAmerican reports that another study (on animals) demonstrated that (-)-epicatechin was able to enhance memory.
Isolated flavanols were used in the studies, and at levels much higher than what you'll find in a typical chocolate bar, so don't expect an IQ boost from eating a Snickers bar. But do look at organic, dark and even raw chocolate as part of a healthy diet.
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Photo Credit: EverJean
