Red wine+ dark chocolate=a sharp mind

Though the thought of chocolate and wine as medicinal almost takes the fun out of it, researchers found both have ingredients that make the minds sharper.

The beneficial effect appears to stem from the high concentration of healthy compounds called polyphenols that are found abundantly in dark chocolates and red wine, and have antioxidant properties.

According to experts, polyphenols open up blood vessels in the human body, which in turn helps the blood to flow more freely to the brain.

This provides it with a rush of oxygen and sugars that boosts brain activity making it easier to solve complex calculations.

The research seems to indicate the benefits of polyphenols are apparently enhanced when wine is consumed in tandem with chocolate rather than when it is just sipped alone.

Benefits of wine on the brain examined
In order to assess the effects of polyphenols on the mind, the researchers carried out two studies.

In the first study, they set out to examine the benefits of wine. For the purpose of the study, they enrolled 75 volunteers and gave them either a pill containing the polyphenol resveratrol, a popular ingredient found in red wine or a placebo.

The study subjects were then assigned to a series of mental math tests.

A scan of the brain showed that though they did perform well in the math tests, participants assigned to the resveratrol pill exhibited a "significantly higher" blood flow to the brain.

Lead author of the study, Emma Wightman a psychologist at the Northumbria University stated, "There is research showing quite a lot of health benefits and there is nothing to suggest there are any adverse effects. You are not going to come to any harm."

The 2nd study
In the second experiment, Crystal Haskell from the Northumbria University gave 24 subjects a chocolate drink with a range of different polyphenols.

As a part of the study, the participants were also put through a similar series of arithmetic tests.

It was noted that after consuming the chocolate drink the volunteers were able to solve the sums more accurately and quickly.

Miss Wightman concluded, "There is a natural reduction in blood supply around the brain as people get older so anything that increases it should have a positive effect.

"Our tests were on young students whose cognitive abilities would be at their peak. They are less likely to see an improvement. We are now carrying out studies on older volunteers."

The research was presented at the British Psychological Society's annual conference in Glasgow.