Study shows the mocha is the best for all day attention
Coffee can be a cruel mistress for some, but it’s not usually the ‘coffee’ it’s the caffeine that causes problems for some drinkers out there.
If you struggle to ‘get going’ in a morning, a cup of coffee can provide an almost instant energy boost.
A recent study conducted by New York’s Clarkson University and the University of Georgia has found that the mocha might be the best possible coffee for retaining alertness and increasing attention span.
The combination of chocolate and caffeine is said to reduce anxiety as well as increase alertness and focus throughout the working day. It’s definitely a promising start, but it must be noted that the entire study was sponsored and supported by the Hershey company — one of America’s largest chocolate manufacturers.
A year-long experiment saw 24 volunteers consume either cocoa, caffeinated cocoa, caffeine in its own or a placebo. These very same participants were then asked to complete a selection of tasks to test their cognitive function and mood.
Just looking at cocoa powder is enough change our mood!
This study found that the combined cocoa and caffeine drink consistently provided the best results for motivation, mood and attention span.
Concluding that brewed cocoa can help reduce errors associated with attention span or lack of motivation caused by both energy levels and mood. The caffeine helps enhance all aspects of attention whilst the cocoa lowers the anxiety-provoking effects from drinking caffeine alone.
Clarkson University researcher Ali Boolani explained: “Cocoa increases cerebral blood flow, which increases cognition and attention. Caffeine alone can increase anxiety. This particular project found that cocoa lessens caffeine’s anxiety-producing effects.
“The results of the tests are definitely promising and show that cocoa and caffeine are good choices for students and anyone else who needs to improve sustained attention.”
Whilst we personally wouldn’t recommend downing a mocha every single time you feel tired, this information might have proved that one of our favourite coffee drinks is in some ways good for us after all!
Maybe it’s time you tried our very own Nutella mocha recipe for yourself when you’re feeling a little low on energy.