A hostess serves visitors at a chocolate fountain during a chocolate convention in Lima July 7, 2011. The three-day exhibition, which drew distributors from Latin America and chocolate sommeliers from Europe, featured organic dark chocolate candy bars, ch
IN PHOTO: A hostess serves visitors at a chocolate fountain during a chocolate convention in Lima July 7, 2011. The three-day exhibition, which drew distributors from Latin America and chocolate sommeliers from Europe, featured organic dark chocolate candy bars, chocolate sushi and Machu Picchu sculptures carved out of the sweet stuff. Reuters/Pilar Olivares

Dark Chocolate can boost alertness and attentiveness in humans, a new study suggests. Intake of significant amount of cacao resulted in notable changes in the way the brains of the study participants were stimulated.

The study led by a group of researchers from Northern Arizona University involved the investigation of the brain activities of 122 individuals aged 18-25. The participants were initially asked to eat a chocolate containing 60 percent cacao. After that, they were given a chocolate with zero percent cacao. Finally, the study subjects were asked to consume a chocolate comprising of 60 percent cacao and L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid derived from green tea, which is known for its relaxing effects. The third type of chocolate was also added with sugar water and regular water.

The brain activities of the participants were analysed through a diagnostic exam called, electroencephalography, or EEG, which measures that electrical activities of the brain. Through this test, the researchers found that stimulating effects were noted after the study subjects ate the chocolates containing 60 percent cacao.

“A lot of us in the afternoon get a little fuzzy and can’t pay attention, particularly students, so we could have a higher cacao content chocolate bar and it would increase attention,” Larry Stevens, study author and a psychological sciences professor at the university stated. The concentration of cacao that showed these effects was far from that of a regular milk chocolate that contains high levels of sugar. With this, Stevens iterated that the two types of chocolates do not produce the same benefits.

The study published in the journal NeuroRegulation also presented that following the intake of chocolate containing L-theanine was a notable decrease in the blood pressure of the participants. The researchers said this can be a valuable discovery that may help future studies.

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