Chocolate is good for the brain, says new research

Now there's yet another reason to eat chocolate (just in case you needed one): it can help improve your brain power.

Researchers have recently found evidence to suggest that regular chocolate consumption improves the cognitive abilities.

See also: Chocolate cake for breakfast 'helps weight loss'

They claim that the dark stuff can significantly improve working memory as well as abstract reasoning skills and visual-spacial memory.

It has long been known that chocolate, eaten in moderation, has health benefits. For a start, it's full of minerals such as zinc, potassium and iron and it has been found to help in reducing levels of cholesterol.

In the past, studies have also found that chocolate can help heart health and blood circulation. And dark chocolate can help maintain healthy arteries and prevents white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels (which are common causes of clogged arteries).

It is also believed that chocolate can reduce the risk of stroke, while other studies have found that a little bit of dark chocolate melted on the tongue before a meal help with weight problems by decreasing your appetite. It has even been shown to prevent diabetes, because cocoa has been proven to improve insulin sensitivity.

So what are you waiting for? Now you can tuck in to a square or three without feeling guilty. Just remember that the darker the chocolate the better...

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