Can chocolate rev up your brainpower?

Are you wondering where you left the TV remote, trying to remember where you parked your car at the mall, or having trouble solving a Rubik’s cube?

Well, maybe you need more chocolate.

No, seriously! A new study reports that a frequent intake of chocolate is associated with better cognitive function. Here’s what the researchers had to say:

Habitual chocolate intake was related to cognitive performance, measured with an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests. More frequent chocolate consumption was significantly associated with better performance on the Global Composite score, Visual-Spatial Memory and Organization, Working Memory, Scanning and Tracking, Abstract Reasoning, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.

In plain English, the researchers found that people who ate chocolate did better on lots of tests that measure memory and thinking.

The researchers do stop short of saying that there’s a cause-and-effect relationship here. (And frankly, there are a lot of factors their study didn’t consider.) But hey—why take chances? After all, there’s already evidence that eating chocolate can cut your risk of heart disease and stroke, increase your insulin sensitivity, and reduce your stress,  And that’s not all—it even helps your gut fight inflammation.

So I say, if you’re craving something sweet, reach for chocolate!  Just make sure you get your dose of chocolate in a healthy recipe. Here are some fun options:

• Get your chocolate fix in a delicious chocolate collagen shake, featuring my Chocolate Bone Broth Protein. 
• If you like your collagen shakes on-the-go, don't miss my Chocolate Almond Collagen Shakes, which come in convenient single-serving packets.
• Check out my Peppermint Patty Cookies here. You get all the melty, gooey, pepperminty awesomeness of store-bought chocolate mint cookies… and they’re totally guilt-free.
• Here’s an easy, yummy recipe you can pour into molds to make bunnies, eggs, or other Easter shapes.
• If you’re a gourmet baker, try Jenni Hulet’s Cherry Chocolate Naked Cake or Chocolate Bundt Cake with Blackberries over at The Urban Poser. Awesome.

If you try these or other chocolate desserts, I recommend using the highest quality chocolate or cocoa. (I’m a big fan of Enjoy Life products, which are dairy-, soy-, and gluten-free.) And remember that even though these desserts are packed with healthy ingredients, you’ll want to eat them sparingly because even natural sweeteners like honey raise your blood sugar levels.

So have a nibble, and share the rest of your chocolate goodies with the people you love. You’ll make everyone’s spring holidays brighter… and who knows, you might even make your brain brighter as well!

Keep Thinking Big & Living Bold!