Could hot toddies, espresso martinis and mulled wine help your brain?

Hot chocolate toddies, coffee based drinks and mulled wine could help both heart and mind, according to a new study.

Recent findings in a new review by the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research stated that beverages have been associated with decreased cognitive decline and keeping the brain smarter and sharper for even longer can be helped by tapping into the drinks that can support its functionality.

The consumption of polyphenol-rich foods such as cocoa, coffee, mushrooms, and red wine, were all associated with protection against cognitive decline, according to the review.

The published article, which takes a close look at case-controlled studies from – evaluating food-related metabolic events from 842 participants that are free of dementia logged that throughout a 12-year period, dietary components for participants were closely evaluated, along with regular neuropsychological tests to determine any cognitive decline over time.

Researchers took a close look at different dietary components for the participants, as well as their gut microbiota and their metabolism and results revealed that, while more research was needed to understand how caffeine (in coffee) affected cognitive decline, the two study samples did show consistent patterns with consumption, metabolism and cognition.

Previous studies have reportedly shown an association between cognitive decline and poor gut microbiota, as well as metabolic syndrome. However, the recent review pointed out a link between gut microbiota and cognitive performance, and indicated how a healthy gut still plays a role in how well the brain functions.

Protection against cognitive decline isn’t the only benefit of drinking coffee or cocoa regularly. Studies show that coffee-based drinks not only positively affect brain health and lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, but they also benefit the heart, protect the liver, reduce the risk of kidney stone formation, and overall help people to live longer.

In essence, warmed cocoa-based and coffee drinks have reportedly continually been linked to better brain health as well as a way to protect against heart attacks and provide assistance for healthier-living in general.