Boosting brain power — with chocolate
Sunday, July 29, 2007
A recent report from the Nottingham university states that, eating chocolate could help to sharpen up the mind and give a short-term boost to cognitive skills. A study led by Professor Ian Macdonald found that consumption of a cocoa drink rich in flavanols — a key ingredient of dark chocolate — boosts blood flow to key areas of the brain for two to three hours. Increased blood flow to these areas of the brain may help to increase performance in specific tasks and boost general alertness over a short period.
The findings, unveiled at one of the biggest scientific conferences in America, also raise the prospect of ingredients in chocolate being used to treat vascular impairment, including dementia and strokes, and thus for maintaining cardiovascular health. The study also suggests that the cocoa flavanols found in chocolate could be useful in enhancing brain function for people fighting fatigue, sleep deprivation, and even the effects of ageing. Ian Macdonald, professor of metabolic physiology at The University of Nottingham, used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect increased activity in specific areas of the brain in individuals who had consumed a single drink of flavanol-rich cocoa. The effect is linked to dilation of cerebral blood vessels, allowing more blood — and therefore more oxygen — to reach key areas of the brain.
Full acknowledgment for the source of this information is to the Nottingham University and,
If you would like to read more about this work please go to the
University of Nottingham Web site.This report was first published on 19th February 2007
Labels: Chocolate, cocoa, flavanols
Improvements for Cocoa growers in Africa
Saturday, March 4, 2006
Catherine Boal has written a report detailing how the Cocoa Industry has united to help improve conditions in Africa.
Here we give you a glimpse of the progress being made.
23/02/2007 - Members of the World Cocoa Foundation have extended their five-year plan to help 150,000 cocoa farming families in Ghana and the Ivory Coast – protecting the supply chain and ensuring ethical practices are in place.
The 'healthy communities' programme is designed to promote responsible labour practices, expand access to education and prevent malaria and HIV among grower communities
African cocoa producing countries account for around 80 per cent of the bean's global exports and the worldwide chocolate market is worth $75 billion (€58.5bn) annually.
But the profitability of the market does not trickle down to producers at the initial stage of production who occupy a weak bargaining position due to their reliance on the commodity.
Ghana is the world's second largest cocoa producer and many manufacturers such as Barry Callebaut and have facilities based in the country. According to the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) the country's commercial crop in 2005/2006 reached a record high of 646,000 tonnes.
Unrest has been a major factor in the Ivory Coast's cocoa market. Last October, growers calling for a higher price for beans and greater financial support staged a strike, blocking shipments and disrupting supply.
The WCF have now put in place four main stages to improve conditions for cocoa farming families. The four key areas to be addressed are: improving economic return for farmers, improving community access to education, ensuring growing practices are carried out responsibly and protecting the environment in which crops are grown.
This year, the Government of Ghana is to release its cocoa farming Certification report which will detail child and adult labour conditions and what methods can be put in place to improve practices.
In addition, a new programme to help prevent malaria and HIV/AIDS has been introduced as part of the WCF scheme. In the Ivory Coast, malaria is the leading cause of death among children while the four cocoa producing regions in Ghana have the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the country.
As always full aknowledgments to Novis and for further details please go to:
http://www.confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=74471&m=2CNE301&c=fcwwwewrlvwrnkyLabels: africa, cocoa, fairtrade
