Solid, drizzled, or baked into a tasty dessert, chocolate is a proven heart-healthy indulgence—in moderation, of course. But could the sweet stuff actually make you smarter? An article published in the “Occasional Notes” section of The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that it’s possible. The researcher, Franz H. Messerli, MD, Director of Clinical Hypertension at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, wrote that countries that consumed the most chocolate per capita also produced more Nobel Prize winners. Therefore, he says, chocolate makes you smarter!
But before you go cocoa-crazy, know that this “note” only finds a correlation between chocolate eating and Nobel Prize winning, and that it isn’t a peer-reviewed study—or scientifically verified. In fact, it’s almost certainly complete bunk. Goes to show: You can’t believe everything you read. Sorry, choco-holics.
It’s not all bad news, though. See, chocolate has a ton of legitimately scientifically verified health benefits.
“It’s a life stimulant,” says Maja Zaric, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and a Women’s Health advisor. “It’ll bring out the best of you.”
To be specific: Cocoa, the active substance in chocolate, contains theobromine, which increases heart rate and can increase brain function, focus, and concentration; bioflavonoids—disease-fighting antioxidants; and phosphorus, which can improve pulmonary function, according to Zaric. But, keep in mind that it also contains a large amount of saturated fat, so a few cubes of dark chocolate every day is all you need to reap these benefits, she says. Aim for no more than 7 ounces of chocolate for a week. Also: The key to maximizing these health benefits is to chow down on chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa.
Want even more excuses to devour your favorite sweet? Click here for 9 health benefits of chocolate.
More from WH:
Decadent and Delicious Chocolate Recipes
The 12 Best Healthy Desserts
Eat Chocolate for Better Sex
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