The sweet solution for a sharper brain Yet another check mark on cocoa's scorecard: A new study revealed that cocoa flavanols (compounds naturally found in cocoa beans) can help stave off age-related memory loss. In the study (led by Columbia University Medical Center), 37 participants aged 50 to 69 were given a cocoa beverage that contained either 10 mg or 900 mg of flavanols every day for three months. Researchers conducted memory function tests on both groups at the study's outset and then again at the conclusion. They found noticeable improvements in memory function in those who consumed the high-flavanol drink. The study's lead author put it into quite a staggering perspective. He said, "If a participant had the memory of a typical 60-year-old at the beginning of the study, after three months that person on average had the memory of a typical 30- or 40-year-old." The study also showed positive changes in the brain's "dentate gyrus," an area of the brain associated with age-related memory decline. While there's more to study here, this is extremely encouraging. And further evidence that cocoa can be a serious brain boon. Just make sure to steer clear of milk chocolate. Opt for dark chocolate that's at least 80 to 90 percent cacao. Or you can go for 100 percent cocoa powder. Mix it with hot, unsweetened almond or coconut milk, along with a little bit of stevia (just enough to cut the bitterness), and you've got a delicious treat that will keep you warm--and healthy--this fall and winter.