Gaby
Research shows that adding more flavonoids to your diet makes cognitive tasks easier to handle. Fruits, cocoa, and green tea can help you think more clearly.
Eating flavonoid-enriched cocoa helped people think through problems faster, even in polluted air. In one experiment the air’s carbon dioxide level was raised to about 5%—roughly 100 times normal—while cerebral blood flow was measured. With higher flavonoid levels in the cocoa, participants completed tests about 11% faster. After drinking a stronger flavonoid beverage, they were also able to tackle more complex tasks. That increase in alertness coincided with a threefold rise in the brain’s access to oxygen.
The beneficial effects of flavonoids on the cardiovascular system have also been studied. The compounds found in fruits and other plants strengthen blood vessels and make red blood cells more flexible.
Cocoa beans, tea, apples, grapes, prunes, and other dried fruits are among the richest sources of flavonoid antioxidants. Dark chocolate, made from cocoa beans, cocoa butter, and sugar, is a concentrated source of these compounds. A bar of flavonoid-rich dark chocolate can help sustain mental energy during a long brainstorming session without needing extra snacks. It’s a quick way to boost mental activity when you need it.
