Well if you crave cocoa then this is good news for you, as researchers have pointed out, probably your body loves cocoa too.

A research study published last week depicts that certain kinds of cocoa contain compounds called flavanols, which help to curtail memory loss. A diet containing high content of flavanols was shown to enhance the region of the brain called the dentate gyrus, located on the brain’s hippocampus, which is thought to be related to memory.

Previous research results also showed that the same flavanols helped to reverse age-related memory decline in mice.

Scott Small, author of the study on cocoa was of the opinion that if another research also supports the finding on flavanols, then it would be possible to find flavanol supplements in a local drug store.

Flavanols are also present in tea and wine but the authors of the study are of the view that one should not confuse the beneficial flavanol amounts found in cocoa with chocolate. Chocolate has only minute amount of flavanols and eating it in small amounts can be good. However, the best kind of chocolate is the dark chocolate  which contains no added sugar or fat.

Most flavanols are also associated with the health benefits of antioxidants, showing that they can curtail certain types of cancers, heart diseases and cholesterol.

“They protect the body from free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Flavonoids can also relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of certain illnesses, such as heart attacks, hypertension and atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Murray Mittleman, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard Medical School.

Other researches also depict that consuming dark chocolate without added sugar reduces the risk of type II diabetes as it increases the body’s resistance to insulin.