Good news, sweet-tooths, we can now eat all the chocolate in the world without ever feeling guilty!
Well, sort of.
A recent study has found that eating chocolate regularly is associated with better cognitive function.
The research, published in the appropriately-named journal Appetite, has found that the consumption of this sweet goodness is associated with cognitive performance “irrespective of other dietary habits.”
The data was collected in a study which residents of a New York suburb were measured for dietary intake and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The participants were also put through a series of tests to measure cognitive function.
“More frequent chocolate consumption was significantly associated with better performance on [tests including] Visual-Spatial Memory and Organisation, Working Memory, Scanning and Tracking, Abstract Reasoning, and the Mini-Mental State Examination, ” researchers said.
Researchers suggested that eating chocolate on a regular basis could help “protect against normal age-related cognitive decline.”
To add to the list of reasons why it’s ok to eat chocolate, contemporary studies have found that chocolate is good for the heart and blood circulation, reduces the risk of stroke, reduces cholesterol and protects the skin against sun damage.
Interesting research have also found that it can help reduce the amount of food you eat. According to neuroscientist Will Clower, if you melt a small square of good chocolate on your tongue 20 minutes before a meal, this triggers a hormone in the brain that will make you feel fuller for longer.
You can go ahead and add some Cadbury to your weekly shopping list now. No judgement here.
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