your intelligence? They answer: Chocolate. It sounds crazy but itís not as far from

the truth as you might think. Last year a study found a significant correlation between

chocolate consumption per capita and the number of Nobel laureates from various countries.

The linear correlation was surprisingly strong. All countries fall nicely around a trend lineÖ

except for Alfred Nobelís homeland Sweden, which has far more nobel prize winners per

capita given their chocolate consumption. We'd all love to believe that chocolate can

boost our intelligence... Well, can it? Thereís something super inside chocolateódark chocolate,

not milk chocolateóand thatís flavanol, a potent antioxidant. So far flavanols have

been shown to lower blood pressure a little by improving the function of the inner lining

of blood vessels, so itís easier for blood to flow through them. Flavanols have also

been effective in slowing down or even reversing the reduction in memory and thinking skills

that occur with aging. In one study, elderly participants were given two cups of flavanol

rich or flavanol poor cocoa to drink every day. Well, neither the flavanol rich or poor

cocoa led to any overall effects on patientís cognitive abilities... Except for those who

already had compromised blood flow and white matter damage to their brains. These people

found that blood flow in their brains improved by 8% and the time it took to complete a working

memory test went down from 167 to 116 seconds. Since chocolate only boosted blood flow to

the brain and memory skills in those with impairments, the benefits arenít quite applicable

to a larger, healthy population. But, watch this spaceóthere are still lots of studies

being done looking into possible benefits of chocolate consumptionÖ some funded by

big confectionary companies. And thereís still this correlation between chocolate consumption

of a country and their number of nobel laureates. Of course correlation does not imply causationóit

indicates that either a countryís chocolate consumption influences the number of nobel

prizes won, the number of nobel prizes won influences a countryís chocolate consumption,

or both chocolate and prizes are influenced by a common factor. If you are craving flavanols,

chocolate isn't the only, or best, way to get themóthe amount of flavanols in dark

chocolate varies a lot depending on the type of cocoa bean, where itís from and how itís

manufactured. Sometimes flavanols are even removed from chocolate because of their bitter

taste. Tea, grapes and apples are other rich sources of flavanols. Chocolate is, like other

things, a sometimes food. If youíre new to BrainCraft, be sure to subscribe for a new

video every other week.