To stimulate cognitive abilities and better fight against hypertension, consuming a specific hot drink is strongly recommended.
Every winter, we enjoy enjoying many hot drinks. Ideal for sipping by the fire, they also have many benefits for our health. For example, one of them is famous for stimulating memory, but also for fighting hypertension. Which one is it? Once you know it, it will probably become your hot drink of choice!
Which hot drink is ideal for concentration?
According to Doctissimoa hot drink is ideal for boosting our concentration: hot chocolate. As our colleagues report, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports proves it. In fact, the researchers asked 18 men aged 18 to 40, all in good health, “to breathe 5% carbon dioxide (about 100 times the normal concentration in the air), to test the blood circulation of the brain”. Following this, they analyzed changes in cerebral oxygenation levels in the subjects’ frontal cortex.
All participants completed tests before and after drinking hot chocolate. According to the results of this study, the brains of these men were more efficient after ingesting this hot drink. As a reminder, this drink is rich in flavonoids, particularly flavanols, which are antioxidant compounds. These then allow you to have a better memory, and generally speaking, better cognitive abilities.
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Hot chocolate, an ally for our cognitive abilities – but not only
In addition to being delicious, hot chocolate is proven to improve our cognitive abilities. “We can relate this to our findings on improving blood oxygenation; if you are challenged, your brain needs better blood oxygen levels to handle that challenge. This also suggests that Flavanols may be particularly beneficial during demanding cognitive tasks.”explains Dr. Catarina Rendeiro, lead author of the study.
In addition to these great benefits for our brain, this hot drink is also beneficial for blood pressure. Consuming it then reduces the risk of heart disease, but also improves blood circulation. However, to experience all the benefits of hot chocolate, it is advisable to opt for the least industrial cocoa possible, and to limit the addition of sugar.
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