Cocoa is a drink that has been extensively researched for its health effects. Cocoa is thought to be healthy because of the phytochemicals it contains. In particular, cocoa contains a group of flavonoid polymers called proanthocyanidins that may act as antioxidants and gene regulators in humans and animals. One aspect of physiological function that may be affected by cocoa flavonoids is the cognitive processes and mental health of the consumer. For example in one study, researchers administered 520 mg or 994 mg of cocoa flavonoids to a group of healthy adult humans and assessed the cognitive and mood effects on the subjects. The results of the study showed that the cocoa flavonoids significantly improved the cognitive ability of the subjects and significantly decreased their mental fatigue. In addition, there were significant improvements in the mood of the participants consuming the cocoa flavonoids, compared to the control, suggesting cocoa may have beneficial effects on mental state.
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