Ditch the Delsym and keep the cocoa! A new study shows chocolate might be a better cough suppressant than actual cough medicine.

According to The Daily Mail, "theobromine, an alkaloid in cocoa, is better at suppressing the urge to cough than codeine — an established ingredient in cough medicines".

Why is chocolate so effective when it comes to keeping your cough under control? Basically, it's because chocolate is stickier than normal cough medicines and forms a thicker coating that "protects nerve endings in the throat which trigger the urge to cough".

Maybe Mary Poppins was onto something with her whole "spoonful of sugar" thing!

For a more scientific look into all things chocolate, take a peek at the full study on AJC.com.

 

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