Curl up in your pyjamas with a warming mug of cocoa.  It is now thought that drinking cocoa at bedtime could help stave off memory problems in elderly people, reports The Daily Telegraph.  Cocoa contains high levels of flavonols, which are also found in tea, grapes, red wine and apples.  These are throught to protect brain cells from damage – a theory which has now been backed up by researchers from the University of L’Aquila in Italy.

Through their research they have found that when people with mild memory problems (of the type that can precede dementia) were given drinks containing cocoa flavonols for several weeks, they performed better in cognitive tests than control groups.  They displayed better working memories, higher scores in reasoning tests and improved blood sugar control than those who did not have the cocoa.  They acknowledge that “larger studies are needed to validate the findings, figure out how long the positive effects will last and determine the levels of cocoa flavonols required for benefit”, but suggest they have come up with “encouraging evidence” for the benefits of cocoa in a well-balanced diet.

So before you go to bed tonight, pull on your favourite pair of PJ Pan pyjamas, make yourself a large mug of hot chocolate….and see how much you remember in the morning!

Hot chocolate in pyjamas – the answer to memory problems?