'Don't eat chocolates atall'is the manthra for kids...but if it is a dark chocolate..then Parents should not refuse to offer atleast one a day. Dark chocolate has lesser sugar and more cocoa than ordinary milk chocolate and is considered good for health...now, even the Brain says 'its Yumm!!'.  A recent study published in a health journal states that people who ate more chocolate per week compared to those who dont eat as much or regularly, have better and sharper mental skills. This study was conducted by a Southern Australian University in partnership with The University of Maine and Luxembourg Institute of Health on 968 test subjects recently. They examined the subjects with a several tests to measure the brain performance of people who consumed chocolate regularly in a week. Their blood pressure, cholesterol, physical relationships, memory power and alcohol intake were all taken into cosideration while studying the results. Dark chocolate is proven to deal well with high blood pressure issues and heart disease complaints. The Phenols found in Cocoa do the majic. The high antioxidant count in Dark chocolate does wonders to human health.

Further studies need to be conducted to find out the direct relationship between chocolate and brain health but it is thought that the Flavonols in Chocolate along with Caffaine and Theobromine might be the reason. Caffeine and Theobromine both are associated with improving mind alertness and keeping the mind awake..which is why most people find it difficult to unwind and sleep after consuming caffeine-rich foods.

Just because you find this study say that regular consumption of chocolate improves brain health, it doesnot mean chocolate becomes a dish for lunch or dinner....not just any chocolate, dark chocolate is preferred and in limited quantities, like two squares from a bar daily, in the first half of the day to keep the sugars at bay during nights. The amount of Cocoa in milk chocolate ranges between 7-15% whereas in dark chocolate, it ranges between 30-70%. Offering one small square of dark chocolate a day during first half of the day, to kids is a good idea too. Not all kids like dark chocolate, but encouraging them to like it is better than getting them used to eating milk chocolates always. Dont replace healthy foods with Chocolate....let the healthy vegetables, grains and fruits be the main course, only think of Dark chocolate for a dessert. Make sure to balance the calories...sametime, dark chocolate powder or the bar consumed with whole milk is a bad idea, the effective antioxidants dont get absorbed by the body, instead try fat free milk as a combo or eat the dark chocolate as-is.

---Prathyusha