Chocolates And Old-age Memory Reversal - Fact Or Fiction?

The other-worldly taste of chocolates, in their own right, has plenty to offer – not only as satisfying treats but also for providing numerous health benefits. Chocolate has something for everyone. It was so for their tastes in the past, but now it seems that older demographic has got one more valid reason to indulge themselves in the wonder world of tasty chocolates – especially from the chocolates-makers like Schoko Chocolates where it is carefully ensured that cocoa, the main ingredient, can keep their integrity and remain uncontaminated, to deliver the health benefits.

Now, let’s give our senior citizens one more reason to love chocolates even more. A study has found that a natural component of cocoa can cause the reversal of old-age memory loss. The findings point out that the chemical compound found in uncontaminated cocoa can induce connectivity. It can do that by directing the blood flow to the region of our brain which is mainly responsible for helping us remember things. In short, it enhances our memory. But for older people, it is much more than just that. As we get old, there is an incremental reduction in blood flow to the different parts of the human body. And as such, with time, our bodies start losing the ability to perform the tasks that they are supposed to. So, when we get old, synapses or connections appear to be reducing and we subsequently start forgetting things, with many other physical impairments start becoming apparent.

But the study is saying that flavonoids found in uncontaminated cocoa can negate mild memory loss. The study used brain scans and memory testing, and there is also the buildup of previous studies’ findings. And as per the study, flavanols extraction from cocoa showed improved neural connections. Don’t start gobbling down each and every chocolate you can grab just yet, because there is a catch – you will have a hard time finding flavanols in every chocolate. There is only a miniscule amount of cocoa in some of the variations where other chemicals like lecithin, additives, food coloring etc are mixed with cocoa to make the finished product aesthetically attractive and also unnatural cravings are created. All of this renders the cocoa hopelessly being a minority, and the benefits of flavanols are lost in the process. On the other hand, chocolate makers like Schoko Chocolates use only uncontaminated cocoa and the star ingredient can flourish and be present in a healthy amount to make chocolate eating worthwhile.

Let’s talk a bit more about the study. A specially prepared chocolate drink was given to a controlled sample of 37 senior adults for three months at stretch. The group was divided into two groups – one received the drink with higher concentration of cocoa containing large quantities of flavanols, and for the other group, the drink was largely free of flavanols. After three months, the high-flavanols group showed significant improvement in pattern recognition tests. Scans of their brains showed that blood flow towards dentate gyrus- a region of the hippocampus, the part critical for retention of memories, had also improved substantially. Though for us, the chocolate lovers, the findings seem ecstatic, researchers took the results with a pinch of salt. They have expressed cautions and wanted to conduct more studies incorporating different aspects of old age physiology. The neuro scientists wanted to have a closer and detailed look at the cognitive abilities of flavanols in studies done on a large sample before to be conclusive about it. The researchers nevertheless felt a comprehensive decisiveness since the study provided the first ever evidence about the impact of the changes of dentate gyrus over an older adult’s memory. The link might be causal in nature but at least, it would provide effective direction in future studies and researches. It should also be noted here that the high-consuming flavanols group were having 900 milligrams, and the less consuming group was taking 40mg of it. The participants were not patients of dementia or Alzheimers or were mostly in good condition physically. So, the effect of cocoa on cognitive disabilities was uncertain.

We should remember that a typical chocolate bar usually has about 40 mg of flavanols in it. So, giving those to granny and hoping she would remember to take her medications on time might not prove fruitful. But there are dark chocolates and chocolates with high concentration of cocoa – so, we should be wise while we choose. The good thing is, people mostly are health conscious these days and are not susceptible to corporate greed quite easily. Then there are the chocolate makers who are in this trade for the love of craftsmanship and enjoy showcase their creativity, while being careful about maintaining the natural integrity of the ingredients to corroborate the health benefits in the best possible way.

So, why wait? Visit our website and order online to get lost in the world of chocolaty goodness.