Evidence supporting the use of: Chocolate
For the health condition: Memory and Brain Function
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3
Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate and cocoa products, has some scientific evidence supporting its potential benefits for memory and brain function. The primary bioactive compounds in chocolate are flavonoids, especially a subgroup called flavanols, which are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Several randomized controlled trials and observational studies have investigated the effects of cocoa flavanols on cognitive performance. Some research suggests that consumption of cocoa flavanols can improve various aspects of brain function, such as working memory, processing speed, and executive function, especially in older adults or those at risk of cognitive decline.
Proposed mechanisms include increased cerebral blood flow, improved vascular function, and modulation of neuronal signaling pathways. For example, a 2012 study published in Hypertension found that older adults who consumed high-flavanol cocoa showed improvements in cognitive function compared to a low-flavanol group. However, studies are often small, heterogeneous, and sometimes funded by the chocolate industry, which can introduce bias. The effects are generally modest and may not be significant in healthy, young individuals. Furthermore, the cognitive benefits are associated with flavanol-rich, minimally processed cocoa, not typical commercial chocolate products, which may contain high sugar and fat content.
In summary, while there is some scientific backing for chocolate’s positive effects on memory and brain function, the evidence is moderate, and more large-scale, independent studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify optimal dosages and populations who may benefit.
Other ingredients used for Memory and Brain Function
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione2'-Fucosyllactose
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Acacetin
Acai berry
Acer truncatum
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Acetylcholine
Agarwood
Agmatine
Algae
algal oil
Almond fruit
Alpha glyceryl
alpha-lipoic acid
alpha-pinene
amentoflavone
amino acids
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
ampelopsin
anchovies
andrographolide
aniracetam
anserine
anthocyanidins
anthocyanins
anthocyanosides
apigenin
arachidonic acid
Aronia melanocarpa
ashitaba
ashwagandha
asparagus
astaxanthin
avocado
baccosides
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
baicalein
baicalin
Basidiomycota
Beef liver
beet
beta caryophyllene
beta-hydroxybutyrate
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
bilobalide
biota seed
bird\'s nest
black currant
black garlic
black ginger
black seed
black tea
blackberry
Blepharis
Blue-Green Alage
blueberry
Boswellia
brahmi
breadnut
broccoli
butylphthalide
Camellia sinensis
Canscora
caprylic acid
carnosic acid
Carnosine
catalpol
catechins
caterpillar mushroom
catuaba
Celastrus
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
centrophenoxine
chaga mushroom
chebulic acid
Chinese Ligustrum berry
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese salvia root
chocolate
choline
chrysanthemum
cinnamic acid
cinnamon
cistanche
citicoline
cocoa
cod liver oil
Codonopsis
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
coffee fruit
cola nut
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
creatine
creatine monohydrate
crocetin
cruciferous
curcumin
currant
cyanidin
cyanobacteria
cytidine
d-alpha tocopherol
danshen
date
decursin
decursinol
Dendrobium
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
diallyl disulfide (DADS)
dibenzo-alpha pyrones
docosahexaenoic Acid
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
egg
eicosapentaenoic acid
eleuthero
elk antler
emblicanin
enokitake
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epicatechin
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
ergothioneine
Eucommia ulmoides
ferulic acid
fisetin
fish
fish protein
Flammulina velutipes
flavanols
flavanones
flavans
flavoglycosides
flavones
fo-ti
folate
folic acid
frankincense
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
fruit blend (proprietary)
fucosterol
galangin
galantamine
gallic acid
garcinol
gastrodin
ginkgetin
ginkgo biloba
ginkgo flavone glycoside
ginkgoheteroside
ginkgolides
Ginkgoside
Ginsenosides
Glucoraphanin
glucose
Glutamate
glycerophosphocholine (GPC)
Glycine
Glycosphingolipids
goji berry
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
green tea
guarana
Guaranine
guayusa
Gypenoside
hazelnut
Hericenones
hericium mushroom
hesperetin
Homotaurine
Honokiol
huperzine A
hydroxytyrosol
icariin
Idebenone
Indian frankincense
inositol
isoliquiritigenin
isovitexin
Jatamansi
jiaogulan
jujube
Kaempferol
kale
krill oil
kudzu
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
l-carnitine
L-carnosine
L-serine
L-taurine
L-theanine
l-tyrosine
Lactobacillus reuteri
lecithin
lemon balm
linalool
lingzhi
lion's mane
longan
lotus seed
lutein
luteolin
Lycium
lysophosphatidylcholine
maca
magnolol
mangiferin
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Matcha
Mate
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Methoxylated flavones
Methylcobalamin
Methylxanthine
Monounsaturated fat
Moringa
Morus
Muira puama
Mulberry
Myricetin
NADH
Nardostachys
Naringenin
Naringin
Nervonic acid
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
Nobiletin
oat
oleic acid
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
oolong tea
ophiopogon root
Osthole
paeoniflorin
paraxanthine
perilla
Periwinkle
phosphatidylcholine
phosphatidylserine
Phosphocreatine
phospholipids
Phthalides
phytocannabinoids
pine bark
Piperine
Plankton
Pleurotus eryngii
pollen
Polydatin
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonum
polysaccharides
polyunsaturated fat
pomegranate
pregnenolone
prolyl endopeptidase (PEP)
Puerain
Puerarin
pumpkin
punicalagins
purslane
Pycnogenol
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
quail egg
quercetin
Rehmannia
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
Rhodiola
robusta coffee
root tuber
rosmarinic acid
royal jelly
Rubiaceae
rutin
saffron
Safranal
Salidroside
Salmon Oil
Salvianolic acid
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
Sarcosine
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Schizochytrium
Schizochytrium Oil
seaweed
selenium
sesame
Shankhpushpi
Shilajit
Sialic acid
Soy
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
spinach
spirulina
Stilbenoid
strawberry
Sulbutiamine
Sulforaphane
sulforaphane glucosinolate
suma
Tanshinone
Taurine
Taxillus chinensis
Terminalia
terpene lactones
Threonic acid
Tiger Nut
Tinospora cordifolia
tocotrienols
Trans-pterostilbene
Tremella
Triacetyluridine
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
Tumerone
turmeric
Turmerones
ubiquinol
Uncaria
Uridine
Urolithin A
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
velvet bean
Vincamine
Vinpocetine
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin D3
vitamin E
Vitexin
Walnut
Waterhyssop
Withanolides
Wogonin
Xanthine
Xanthohumol
Xanthone
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Yerba mate
Yohimbine
Yumberry
Yuzu
Zinc
β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)