New study finds drinking hot chocolate can make you smarter

If you're lacking that intellect (or know somebody who is), it’s time to ditch the coffees and start drinking hot chocolate. 

Why? 

Well, according to scientists, hot chocolate can actually make you smarter!

Researchers discovered that while coffee gives you a quick energy boost, hot chocolate increases your mental performance. 

The study from the University of Birmingham in England found molecules in cocoa called flavanols, which help improve the health of the brain, brain-blood oxygenation levels and help your noggin process information more efficiently.

They put the sweet drink to the test after giving subjects flavanol-enriched beverages and getting them to complete tasks. 

"Our results showed a clear benefit for the participants taking the flavanol-enriched drink – but only when the task became sufficiently complicated," Dr Rendeiro explains. "We can link this with our results on improved blood oxygenation – if you’re being challenged more, your brain needs improved blood oxygen levels to manage that challenge. It also further suggests that flavanols might be particularly beneficial during cognitively demanding tasks".

Cheers to that!