According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Associate for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco, flavonol, a cocoa component is said to enhance the functioning of brain.

Mars a private firm involved in the manufacture of CocoaVia chocolates has a procedure which retains flavonols, an active constituent of cocoa drink in them. This has been used in a lot of trials. The current study indicates that flavonol aids in active blood flow to the brain and also helpful in a few of cardiac ailments.

Ian Macdonald from University of Nottingham Medical School did brain imaging study on young and healthy women to find out if flavonol rich beverage has any effect on the cognitive function. Though it did not enhance their brain activity, a steady blood flow to the brain was noticed at least for two hours. This could be useful in older population suffering from cognitive disorders and strokes.

A similar response was observed by Dr. Norman Hollenberg of Harvard Medical School who states that this subject needs to be explored further by conducting trial on a larger population. All the same, he dissuades people from rushing for chocolates.