How cocoa could turn you into a brainbox

We all know that hot chocolate tastes great and is a warming comforting treat, but did you also know that drinking hot chocolate could also transform your higher brain functions?

New research has indicated that drinking drinks, such as hot chocolate, high in things called flavanols, a nutrient found in plants, can help people achieve higher grades in cognitive tests. Participants in the study were given a series of tasks to complete with one group having drunk hot chocolate first and the others no drink at all.

The test undertaken by the University of Birmingham and published in Scientific Reports found that those participants who had enjoyed hot chocolate with high levels of flavanols performed up to 11 per cent better and quicker than those who didn’t.

Flavanols can also be found in Green Tea, apples, blackberries and also in red wine.