Chocolate and mental performance

Photo by Cacaobug

You might have seen this piece of news about a new study:

Scientists reveal how eating chocolate can help improve your maths
Eating chocolate could improve the brain's ability to do maths, a new study suggests.

I think I have experienced this effect. Whenever I eat several pieces of dark chocolate, it definitely seems (while I do various computer work) that my brain works faster and I'm more alert. I also think that this effect is not because of sugar, because the dark chocolate does not have high amounts and because I definitely don't feel the same if I just ate, say, a sweet apple or a cookie.

I like both chocolate and the "alert" feeling after eating it. I don't like it when I start feeling the "brain drain" (your brain can definitely get tired after several hours of researching/writing emails & blogposts/devising math problems etc.). I don't know if this effect is from flavanols in chocolate like it mentions in the study, or theobromine, or both, or also something else.

The brand I often get here is El Rey. I don't have a clue about its flavanol content; it says it's made with "rare, flavorful, coveted" Venezuelan cacao beans only. But be that as it may, the taste sure IS good!

Comments

Annette said…
I KNEW IT!!! Yet another great reason to eat chocolate :D Isn't it great when studies support our addictions? :)
9:52 PM, May 06, 2009
Used Homeschool Curriculum said…
I love this tip. It is always good to hear that chocolate and mental performance are related. That must be why my friend uses chocolate chips as rewards for homeschool tasks.

Julie
20 year veteran homeschooler
3:30 PM, May 11, 2009
James said…
It is very informative eating chocolate could improve the brain's ability to do maths, a new study suggests. Actually i have listened it before but i didn't believe this. Now i think it might true and i will experiment.
1:23 AM, May 29, 2009
ewrosla said…
I think it`s very interesting topic. I wonder if different kinds of chocolate have different abilities. Eg. does white chocolate stimulates brain better then cherry chocolate or chocolate with jelly? I think more research should be done;)
7:52 AM, June 15, 2009
Maria Miller said…
No, white chocolate wouldn't have any of the benefits (to my understanding) because it lacks the "brown" or the cocoa part.

Also, if you add jelly or other things into it, you get less of the actual chocolate, so it won't help either. The "goody" antioxidants aren't in the fat part but in the bitter cocoa part. So you get similar benefits from flavonoid-rich cocoa powder.
9:31 AM, June 15, 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Conversion chart for measuring units

Image
I was just sent a link to this site; all it is, is a handy one-page printable conversion chart for various US measures, metric measures, and US vs. metric measures. Includes even a comparative Fahrenheit vs. Celsius thermometer. http://metricconversioncharts.org/
Read more

Meaning of factors in multiplication: four groups of 2, or 4 taken two times?

Someone asked me about the interpretation or meaning of the two numbers in multiplication, such as 4 × 2. Do you view it as four groups of 2 , or as four, taken two times ? Here's their question: "...I noticed that your explanation about how to interpret a math phrase, such as 4 × 2, is different from how I have understood it and taught it to my older daughter who was using RightStart Math at this level. Let me explain:  I see that you are using the first factor to denote number of groups and the second factor tells how many are in each group (4 × 2 would be interpreted 4 groups of 2).  On the other hand, I have taught and thought of it reversed, with the first factor telling how many are in each group and the second factor telling you how many groups (4 × 2 would be 4 taken 2 times).  I know that the difference in explanations does not ultimately change the product, but I am wondering what you thoughts are.  When I conceptually picture what I'm doing I see i...
Read more

Geometric art project: seven-circle flower design

Image
I got inspired by the blogpost Art School | Geometric Design with Islamic Art where Deborah shows how to make a neat flower design with seven circles , using a compass, and then coloring it using 2, 3, or 4 colors (or however many of your own). I think it ties in neatly with mathematics, and lets students practice drawing circles with a compass.  My girls loved the art/math project. Here are pictures they made: Here are step-by-step instructions for the flower design: 1.  Draw a line and a circle so that the circle's center point is on the line. Then mark the points where this circle intersects the line. 2. Use those points as center points, and draw two more circles. The radius is the same all the time, so make sure you don't change it on your compass!We used 5 cm as the radius, and that made the whole design fit neatly on a regular letter size paper. 3. Now note the two points marked in the picture. They will be used as center points in the next...
Read more