Epicathechin: the chocolate brain nutrient

Epicathechin (a Flavanoid) is found in high concentrations in cocoa (dark chocolate), tea (green and black), apricots, black grapes, red wine, and apples.

Epicathechin (and chocolate) brain effects: Epicathechin has been found to stimulate brain plasticity, and improve overall brain functioning in both the young and elderly. The positive effects of epicathechin dietary supplementation on memory formation benefit from simultaneous exercise - indicating an exercise-brain food synergy.

The additional health benefits of epicathechin are impressive:

"Epicatechin is so important that it should be considered a vitamin"
( Norman Hollenberg, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School).

The risk of 4 of the 5 most common death-causing conditions (stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes) is dropped to less than 10% in the Kuna people living off the Panama shores who drink up to 40 cups of epicathechin rich cocoa weekly. A 15-year medical study of elderly men published in 2006 found a 50% reduction in cardiovascular mortality for the men regularly consuming the most cocoa, compared to those consuming the least cocoa.