Time for a pop quiz. I’ll ask you a question and you select the answer that you believe is correct.

Question: What three foods have recently been associated with better mental performance?

a) fruits, whole grains and vegetables

b) coffee, fish and olive oil

c) chocolate, tea and wine

I’m not going to answer the question just yet. First, I’d like to tell you a little bit about the study that inspired this blog.

The research to which I’m referring is from the December 2008 issue of The Journal of Nutrition. The study examined the mental function and diet of over 2,000 men and women in their 70’s.

Multiple tests were administered to determine how well the volunteers’ brains operated. The group of seniors was also asked to keep a food diary that detailed their regular diet.

The test results were tabulated. The diaries were analyzed. The conclusion reached is also the correct answer to today’s pop quiz:

The seniors who consumed chocolate, tea and wine most frequently scored highest on the tests that measure healthy brain function. Of the three food items, chocolate and wine showed the strongest positive association.

But before you go out and buy boxes of Three Musketeer bars and cases of random wine, hear this: Go for the good stuff. Look for truly dark chocolate (products that provide 70% or more of actual cocoa content), and opt for red wines. The pigments that make red wine red and dark chocolate dark are also some of the healthiest substances available in our food supply. Milk chocolate and white wine are simply pale imitations of the real thing.

Be well!

JP

Referenced Material

Link – Chocolate, Wine and Brain Longevity