14 DAY TRIAL // In a series of experiments, researchers at Northern Arizona University imaged the brain of volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 after asking them to eat dark chocolate containing as much as 60% cocoa or some other treat.
The team found that, having eaten the unsweetened dark chocolate, the study participants experienced an increase in their brain activity levels. Simply put, they almost instantly became more attentive and alert.
As a side effect, their blood pressure went up, albeit only for a short while. When the volunteers were offered dark chocolate spiked with a green tea compound known to act as a relaxant, i.e. L-theanine, this side effect vanished.
Thus, the dark chocolate laced with L-theanine helped up brain activity while at the same time lowering the volunteers' blood pressure. Otherwise put, it both made them more alert and benefited their cardiovascular health.
Admittedly, such wondrous dark chocolate is not yet available on the market and was instead created by the researchers especially for this novel study. Still, it looks like it would be a good idea to start producing it.
“The potential here is for a heart healthy chocolate confection that contains a high level of cacao with L-theanine that is good for your heart, lowers blood pressure and helps you pay attention,” says specialist Larry Stevens.