Here’s another good reason to enjoy chocolate, even if you’re resisting it’s delicious charm due to your weight loss or management program. It has a substance, a compound to be exact, that according to recent scientific studies help improve memory – of mice at the very least.
“This finding is an important advance because it identifies a single natural chemical with memory-enhancing effects, suggesting that it may be possible to optimize brain function by combining exercise and dietary supplementation,” says Mark Mattson, PhD, at the National Institute on Aging.
However there is a condition that could either be encouraging or discouraging for everyone, it requires exercise to work. Yup, the newly identified natural compound worked best if exercise was done regularly. The wonderful compound is epicatechin, it belongs to a group of chemicals known as flavonols and has been shown previous studies to improve cardiovascular function in people and increase blood flow in the brain.
Though the compound can also be found in blueberries, tea, and grapes chocolate would easily become the first choice compared to these other sources. Again, the weight-conscious individual hoping for a way to improve his or her memory may frown about chocolate and settle for the three other sources but they must clearly see that there’s a trade-off that will help them maintain their weight or shave some off while still be able to satisfy their sweet-tooth with chocolate. That trade-off is exercise!
It’s common sense I guess, that the best way to stay fit, maintain your figure and it does not necessarily have to be slim and slender, enhance your bodily functions like memory is to eat good and healthy foods and exercise regularly. A few minutes of walking or jogging in the morning before going to work or taking a bicycle to school or work is all the exercise you’ll need for the day.
Walking or using a manual form of transport to get around may sound boring or a ‘big effort’ but it’s only for the lazy ones, couch potatoes and grease gobblers. By walking or using manual forms of transportation, you do not only contribute in eliminating carbon emissions but you also do your self a good favor because of the exercise you get.
And now that you know about chocolate containing a natural compound that enhances memory, only through exercise, there’s a good reason to go for that morning jog or walk and a good excuse to wet your cravings for chocolate.
You could even bring your friends or colleagues or schoolmates along. Ask them to bring a different kind of chocolate each, their iPods or mp3 players and viola! It’s an instant gathering for health, the environment and chocolate!