New reasons to drink dark chocolate. A preliminary study suggests that indulging in this tasty food could improve vision. The scientists found that adults who drank a bar of dark chocolate saw a significant increase in visual clarity and contrast sensitivity within 2 hours of consumption.
Much to the delight of chocolate lovers, dark chocolate has started to develop a huge reputation as a health food when consumed in moderation (this should never be forgotten); It contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which are plant-derived compounds that can have a number of positive effects, such as reducing inflammation in the body.
These flavonoids are believed to be largely responsible for some of the potential health benefits of consuming dark chocolate, including better cognitive function and better heart health.
Now this group of scientists suggests that the benefits of dark chocolate may extend to vision.
The researchers reached their conclusions by testing the effects of dark chocolate on the vision of 30 healthy adults, 9 men and 21 women, who had an average age of 26 years. None of the subjects had a history of eye disease.
In two separate sessions, each participant was required to consume a small dark chocolate bar containing 316.3 milligrams of flavonoids or a small milk chocolate bar, containing only 40 milligrams of flavonoids. During the test, the participants were not told what type of chocolate they consumed in each session.
Approximately 2 hours after consuming the chocolate, all subjects underwent visual tests.
The results revealed an improvement in visual contrast sensitivity – or the ability to read small and large print with different contrasts – after the subjects consumed dark chocolate, compared to when they consumed milk chocolate.
Participants also experienced a slight improvement in visual acuity, that is, clarity of vision, after consuming dark chocolate. However, the researchers note that it is unclear how long these visual enhancements last.
“The reported findings suggest that a single dose of dark chocolate improves the visibility of small low-contrast targets within 2 hours compared to milk chocolate, but the duration of this difference and the clinical relevance remains uncertain,” explains Jeff. C. Rabin, from the Rosenberg School of Optometry at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio (USA) and co-author of the work.
More research is needed
While the study was unable to identify the reasons why eating dark chocolate may improve vision, the researchers propose some theories.
“An increase in the retina, visual pathway and / or cerebral blood flow could be contributing, improving the bioavailability of oxygen and nutrients at metabolically active sites,” the authors state.
The researchers also note a number of limitations to their study. For example, they admit that the participants may have been aware of the type of chocolate they were consuming based on its taste, and this may have influenced the results.
In conclusion, the team believes that more studies are needed to evaluate the potential visual benefits of eating dark chocolate.
Dark chocolate improves brain neuroplasticity
New studies shed light on how dark chocolate could improve our brain health and strengthen our immune systems. Two small studies, recently featured at Experimental Biology 2018, held in San Diego, California, and to be published in The FASEB Journal, offer further evidence of how dark chocolate can be good for us.
Both studies were led by Lee Berk, and they concluded that eating a small amount of 70% dark chocolate could have positive effects on the brain and immune system.
Referencia: Dark chocolate (70% organic cacao) increases acute and chronic EEG power spectral density (μV2) response of gamma frequency (25–40 Hz) for brain health: enhancement of neuroplasticity, neural synchrony, cognitive processing, learning, memory, recall, and mindfulness meditation. The FASEB Journal 2018.
Dark chocolate (70% cacao) effects human gene expression: Cacao regulates cellular immune response, neural signaling, and sensory perception. The FASEB Journal 2018.
Effects of Milk vs Dark Chocolate Consumption on Visual Acuity and Contrast Sensitivity Within 2 HoursA Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Ophthalmol 2018. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.0978
