Fudging it: Chocolate really can be good for you A single cup of
flavanol-enhanced cocoa increases blood flow in the brain,
studies show. The boost in circulation is sufficient to power a
short-term enhancement of cognitive skills. (Fotolia.com /
February 20, 2013) An especially bitter cocoa beverage is still
favored by Kuna Indians living off the coast of Panama, who
drink about five cups a day. Researchers believe the bitterness
is a mark of the very high content of flavanol phytonutrients in
chocolate in its unprocessed state--which explains why the
island-dwelling Kuna have unusually low rates of heart disease
and cancer. When the Indians move to the mainland, where they
don't drink the same cocoa, they are no longer medically
privileged. Scientists have gathered evidence that a high
concentration of flavanols enhances blood vessel function
throughout the body, and ongoing studies confirm that high-
flavanol cocoa preparations especially boost brain blood flow.
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