science makes me happy once more

[vaskidmark]

http://www.universityherald.com/articles/18832/20150508/dark-chocolate-may-make-people-more-alert-attentive.htm

New research suggests that dark chocolate people more attentive, enabling them to beat the midday slump.

Researchers at Northern Arizona University found that chocolate can increase brain characteristics of attention and significantly affect blood pressure levels. Historically, chocolate has been recognized as a vasodilator, meaning that it widens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure in the long run, but chocolate also contains some powerful stimulants.

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"Chocolate is indeed a stimulant and it activates the brain in a really special way," Larry Stevens, a professor of psychological sciences at NAU, said in a statement. "It can increase brain characteristics of attention, and it also significantly affects blood pressure levels."

For the study, researchers examined the acute effects of chocolate on attentional characteristics of the brain and the first-ever study of chocolate consumption performed using electroencephalography on more than 100 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. The researchers examined the EEG levels and blood pressure effects of consuming a 60 percent cacao confection compared with five control conditions.

Yes, it's basically "Well, duh!" but it never hurts to have science on your side.

stay safe.

[230RN]

I used to use a pinch of Acccent (pure MSG) to reboot my brain before important meetings where I really had to be sharp as a tack but was not feeling 100%*.

Used judiciously, it was a brain booster, otherwise it would give me a headache. Also unfortunately, MSG in any snacks or foods containing it (and a lot do, under disguised names) would keep me awake at night, with my brain running like a buzz saw.


I have no doubt that MSG or derivatives are in a lot of those brain boosters you can buy OTC.



Terry, 230RN

* Usually, but not always, due to the aspirin I take for arthritis.  Aspirin can dull your thinking quite a bit.

[Marnoot]

dark chocolate people

I think they accidentally a word there.

[French G.]

So according to recent research the plan is eat dark chocolate, bacon, drink coffee, stare at boobs, live forever. Life is shaping up nicely.