Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Cocoa Compounds Boost Brain Function

People consuming large amounts of cocoa flavanols perform better on tests of cognitive function.

A recent study offers one possible way to keep cognitive function strong, and it could be tasty.

In a study partially funded by the Mars candy company, 37 people between 50 and 69 were provided with diets that differed greatly in the amount of flavanols. They were randomly assigned to consume either 900 mg or just 10 mg of flavanols from cocoa daily.

Brain scans and cognitive testing after three months determined that people performed better at the high levels of flavanols.

Where to Find Flavanols

Mars created a special high-flavanol drink just for the study that is not available commercially, and nutritionists warn that flavanol levels in chocolate bars are not high enough to be helpful.

Berries and tea may offer other sources of flavanol compounds that are similar but not identical. Animal research and some human studies have shown that blueberries, for example, can help cognitive function.

We will need to watch for new products that offer cocoa flavanols without the extra sugar and fat found in most chocolate candies. For the time being, the Mars product CocoaVia with 250 mg cocoa flavanols per packet may be among the most reliable sources, according to ConsumerLab.com.

[Brickman, et al., Nature Neuroscience, online Oct. 26, 2014]

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
5- 14 ratings
About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.