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FlavanolsAntioxidantsGood source of flavonoidsCompounds called flavonoidsBerriesSources of flavonoidsBeansPolyphenolsFlavanol-rich cocoa drinkAntioxidantFlavan-3-oPlant compoundsEffects of cocoaBenefits of cocoaIntakeConsumptionTheobromaWine and cocoaCardiovascularSolidsSupplementsPolyphenolResearchersCacao nibsChocolateFoundHighFattyMetabolicProcyanidinsIngredientNitric oxideHumansPlaceboDietaryInsulin sensitivityRichBiologicalContentDrinksBeanFoods
Flavanols21
  • The majority of science into the potential benefits of cocoa has revolved around cardiovascular benefits of the flavanols (also known as flavan-3-ols or catechins), and particularly the monomeric flavanol (-)epicatechin. (confectionerynews.com)
  • The two claims are for 200 mg of cocoa flavanols from cocoa beverages (with cocoa powder) or for dark chocolate (authorized in 2013), and for the same dose for capsules or tablets containing high-flavanol cocoa extract (2015). (confectionerynews.com)
  • The Cleveland Facility found that the cell reinforcements in blend with the flavanols regularly found in cocoa have numerous cardiovascular profits including bringing down pulse and cholesterol levels. (longislandholisticdoctor.com)
  • In collaboration with a global network of scientific research partners, we are investigating the potential benefits of cocoa flavanols for human health. (marscocoascience.com)
  • What are Cocoa Flavanols? (marscocoascience.com)
  • Collaborating with partners, Mars has published over 160 peer-reviewed cocoa flavanols publications, from analytical chemistry to clinical nutrition research. (marscocoascience.com)
  • "If you look at the underlying mechanism, the cocoa flavanols have beneficial effects for cardiovascular health and can increase cerebral blood volume in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus," ​according to lead authors Valentina Socci and Michele Ferrara from the University of L'Aquila in Italy. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • The review takes into account close to 50 randomised controlled trials detailing the effects of acute and chronic administration of cocoa flavanols on different cognitive domains. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • Furthermore, acute administration of cocoa flavanols could result in immediate cognitive-enhancing effect, sustaining performance particularly in cognitively demanding conditions, including fatigue and sleep loss. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • They ruled that dark chocolate, cocoa extracts and cocoa-based beverages with 200 mg of cocoa flavanols contribute to normal blood circulation by helping to maintain the elasticity of blood vessels. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • But seriously, it's not that surprising when you consider that the flavanols in dark chocolate and cocoa have known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which research has found to help enhance cognitive performance and function. (greatist.com)
  • They have a distinct group called flavanols, which are found in foods and beverages like grapes, red wine, tea and cocoa. (sportskeeda.com)
  • Although there are flavanols in chocolate , remember that the entire processing of cocoa beans, which includes methods like roasting, fermentation, alkalization and more, can destroy some of these important flavonoids, leaving no health benefit. (sportskeeda.com)
  • At the completion of the first year, it was found that participants who took cocoa supplements and who tested for low-level of flavanols normalized their levels. (sportskeeda.com)
  • For the study, researchers typically focused on cocoa flavanols and found impressive results. (sportskeeda.com)
  • Study pinpoints chocolate as beneficial to the heart ​ In March this year researchers from the Univeristy of Illinois, in conjunction with Mars, published a peer reviewed study in Journal of Nutrition ​ that found consuming chocolate containing cocoa flavanols and plant sterols can lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. (nutraingredients.com)
  • A dozen smokers (six men and six women) in their early 30s, who did not have any known health problems, were enrolled in the double-blind crossover study to compare the effects of a cocoa drink rich in flavanols to a cocoa drink that tasted the same, but contained very low levels of flavanols. (mongabay.com)
  • Mars, Incorporated, the privately held U.S. company company that produces M&Ms, Twix, Snickers and other confectionaries is in talks with several large pharmaceutical companies to develop medications based on flavanols - plant chemicals with health benefits found in cocoa, according to a report from Reuters. (mongabay.com)
  • Cocoa flavanols protect humans against vascular disease, as evidenced by improvements in peripheral endothelial function, likely through nitric oxide signalling. (nature.com)
  • In particular, cocoa flavanols, a sub-group of flavonoids (also present in berries, grapes, apples and tea) have been shown to improve endothelial function in humans quite rapidly (within 1-2 h) by enhancing vasodilatory properties of peripheral arteries 5 , 6 . (nature.com)
  • Cocoa is particularly high in a type of polyphenols called flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. (guenergy.com)
Antioxidants11
Good source of flavonoids2
Compounds called flavonoids2
  • Cocoa butter contains compounds called flavonoids and polyphenols. (mydeardog.com)
  • Indeed, powerful plant compounds called flavonoids that are found in cocoa may help decrease LDL (aka 'bad') cholesterol, improve blood flow and reduce insulin resistance (which is linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes), according to Harvard Health Publishing . (livestrong.com)
Berries2
  • Berries , especially blueberries, are rich in anthocyanins and other flavonoids - compounds that may help support memory function, according to a 2014 review . (greatist.com)
  • The Reading researchers believe that flavonoids in berries activate an enzyme in the body called Enos which increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources of flavonoids1
Beans9
  • Cocoa is the non-fat component of cocoa liquor (finely ground cocoa beans) which is used in chocolate making or as cocoa powder (commonly 12 per cent fat) for cooking and drinks. (confectionerynews.com)
  • Among them, cocoa is unique and consists of a mixture of phytonutrients that are only found in cocoa beans. (sportskeeda.com)
  • Cocoa beans are roasted and then ground to produce a paste. (mydeardog.com)
  • Cocoa butter is extracted from cocoa beans to make chocolate. (mydeardog.com)
  • Some people believe that Cocoa butter and chocolate both derive from cocoa beans. (mydeardog.com)
  • However, cocoa butter is the fat that is extracted from cocoa beans. (mydeardog.com)
  • Chocolate comes from cocoa beans that are shelled, roasted and ground to make a thick, dark paste called chocolate liquor, the basic ingredient in all chocolate. (landolakes.com)
  • The fat, naturally found in the beans, is called cocoa butter, which gives chocolate its smooth richness. (landolakes.com)
  • You'll probably be aware of cacao's many other forms, butter, powder, but what happens in processing determines whether the beans become cacao or cocoa? (ceres.co.nz)
Polyphenols3
  • A report published in December 2007 by Global Business Insights predicted that green, which contains high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, was among the main functional ingredients likely to become more popular. (nutraingredients.com)
  • Cocoa polyphenols tend to reduce inflammation by regulating proinflammatory mediators and controlling processes that oxidize low density lipids (LDL) in the development of atherosclerosis 73 . (bvsalud.org)
  • More recent studies have focused on the biological activity of various extracts of cocoa or of waste materials from the chocolate industry, such as cocoa bean husk, which is known to contain high concentrations of polyphenols. (bvsalud.org)
Flavanol-rich cocoa drink1
  • In addition, the improvements were reversed when the participants were given a drug (L-NMMA) that interferes with nitric oxide signaling, thus supporting the idea that the flavanol-rich cocoa drink produced its effects by influencing the nitric oxide system. (mongabay.com)
Antioxidant4
  • Recent reports indicate that the main flavonoids found in cocoa, flavan-3-ols and their oligomeric derivatives, procyanidins, have a variety of beneficial actions, including antioxidant protection and modulation of vascular homeostasis. (marscocoascience.com)
  • Plant-based diets are rich in flavonoids, which possess properties such as scavenging free radicals and exerting both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. (frontiersin.org)
  • Nutritionists say they are one of the richest sources of cancer-fighting antioxidant called flavonoids, which are also found in green tea, wine, grapes and cocoa. (dailymail.co.uk)
  • This delicious blessing contains cocoa which is rich in flavonoids, a type of antioxidant. (indiatimes.com)
Flavan-3-o2
  • The results of small-scale randomized controlled trials suggest that consumption of flavonoid-rich food and beverages containing anthocyanins or flavan-3-ols may improve vascular endothelial function. (oregonstate.edu)
  • Flavonoids are classified into 12 major subclasses based on chemical structures, six of which, namely anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, and isoflavones ( Table 1 and Figures 1-9 ) are of dietary significance. (oregonstate.edu)
Plant compounds2
  • Flavonoids are a large family of polyphenolic plant compounds. (oregonstate.edu)
  • Flavonoids are beneficial plant compounds with neuroprotective benefits. (healthline.com)
Effects of cocoa2
  • Research looking into the effects of cocoa flavanol ingestion ranging from 5 days to 3 months in the elderly found notable effects to attention, processing speed, working memory and verbal fluency. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • Older adults supplementing with cocoa for 8 weeks improved their performance on a series of demanding cognitive tests 9 , while in younger adults, the beneficial effects of cocoa have been demonstrated in learning, memory, and attention…talk about a brain food! (guenergy.com)
Benefits of cocoa2
  • One of the primary benefits of cocoa butter for dogs is that it helps to improve skin health. (mydeardog.com)
  • 11 Researchers have also started to examine whether the blood flow benefits of cocoa consumption improves endurance exercise performance. (guenergy.com)
Intake8
  • A strong body of scientific evidence shows regular cocoa flavanol intake can improve blood vessel function and cognitive function in healthy adults. (marscocoascience.com)
  • Cocoa and chocolate contribute to trace mineral intake, which is necessary for optimum functioning of all biologic systems and for vascular tone. (marscocoascience.com)
  • The long-term cognitive protection of cocoa was also noted in populations at risk with a 30-day evaluation ​ ​ of cocoa intake in elderly subjects with vascular risk factors. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • To address these limitations, we employed data from 22,481 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore the association between the intake of flavonoids and DM prevalence by weighted Logistic regression and weighted restricted cubic splines. (frontiersin.org)
  • Moreover, the association between DM prevalence and the intake of total flavonoids was significantly influenced by race ( p for interaction = 0.006). (frontiersin.org)
  • In Mexican Americans, there was a significant positive association between DM prevalence and total flavonoid intake within the third quartile [1.04 (1.02, 1.07), p = 0.003]. (frontiersin.org)
  • 12 One study found that long term (3 months) intake of cocoa increases both VO2max and power output during a cycling test in untrained adults. (guenergy.com)
  • Still, many studies that show a marked improvement in cognitive performance usually involve an extremely high intake of flavonoids - upwards of 400 milligrams a day or the equivalent of eight bars of dark chocolate - per Harvard Health Publishing. (livestrong.com)
Consumption2
  • Evidence suggesting that some flavonoids or flavonoid-rich foods may enhance cognitive function is currently limited, and it is not yet known whether their consumption could lower the risk of cognitive impairments and dementia in humans. (oregonstate.edu)
  • While cocoa butter is generally safe for human consumption, is it also safe for dogs? (mydeardog.com)
Theobroma2
  • Using the local and ancient method, with slight modifications, palm kernel oil (Elaeis guineensis) and the filtrate of burnt cocoa pod ash (Theobroma cacao) were used to prepare African black soap (C11H23COO-K+). (academicjournals.org)
  • Cocoa bean produces Theobroma cacao or cocoa butter. (mydeardog.com)
Wine and cocoa1
Cardiovascular6
  • Cocoa and chocolate flavonoids: implications for cardiovascular health. (marscocoascience.com)
  • This paper offers a review of current scientific research regarding the potential cardiovascular health benefits of flavonoids found in cocoa and chocolate. (marscocoascience.com)
  • Other constituents in cocoa and chocolate that may also influence cardiovascular health are briefly reviewed. (marscocoascience.com)
  • While the long-term benefits of such improvements remain to be established, we believe that one exciting outcome of this study is the demonstration that flavanol-rich cocoa can significantly improve an important marker of cardiovascular health in a population with an established cardiovascular risk factor. (mongabay.com)
  • Taken together, these findings support the notion that flavanol-rich foods, including cocoa products, may help to promote cardiovascular health," Dr. Kelm said. (mongabay.com)
  • This explains how cocoa may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by improving vascular compliance, or the ability of the blood vessels to expand and contract. (guenergy.com)
Solids3
  • Cocoa liquor contains approximately 55 per cent cocoa butter and together this comprises cocoa solids, often referred to on chocolate packaging. (confectionerynews.com)
  • The liquor is then refined to remove the solids, producing the cocoa butter. (mydeardog.com)
  • White chocolate doesn't have any caffeine since it's just made from cocoa butter and not cocoa solids," Yeung says. (livestrong.com)
Supplements2
  • Flavonoid-rich cocoa supplements may improve biomarkers of heart health, boost mobility, and improve the quality of life for people over 55, suggests a new study. (confectionerynews.com)
  • However, flavonoid supplements may affect the action of anticoagulants and increase the toxicity of a wide range of drugs when taken concurrently. (oregonstate.edu)
Polyphenol1
Researchers3
  • The researchers also observed improvements in physical performance, frailty indicators, and quality of life, compared to the flavonoid-free cocoa group. (confectionerynews.com)
  • According to researchers, the new research is a supplementation of the study, the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study ( COSMOS ). (sportskeeda.com)
  • If the trial confirms the beneficial affects of flavonoids " it could have a far-reaching impact on the advice we give to postmenopausal women who have type 2 diabetes ​", said Dr Ketan Dhatariya, one of the researchers and a consultant in diabetes at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. (nutraingredients.com)
Cacao nibs2
  • Mix or blend unsweetened cocoa powder or raw cacao nibs in a smoothie, yogurt, or oats. (guenergy.com)
  • 100g of raw cacao powder has an ORAC of 95,500, this drops to 62,100 for cacao nibs, and 26,000 for cocoa powder - so quite the difference! (ceres.co.nz)
Chocolate31
  • Chocolate and cocoa are two different terms and are not interchangeable. (confectionerynews.com)
  • Chocolate refers to the combination of cocoa, cocoa butter, sugar, etc. into a solid food product. (confectionerynews.com)
  • Thus, multiple components in chocolate, particularly flavonoids, can contribute to the complex interplay of nutrition and health. (marscocoascience.com)
  • The biological effects of flavonoids and their potential as nutraceuticals is not a new discovery with firms such as confectionary giants Barry Callebaut supplying the cocoa ingredient for inclusion in chocolate-based food products. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
  • Dietary flavonoids are naturally occurring in fruit, vegetables, chocolate, and beverages like wine and tea. (oregonstate.edu)
  • Or, if you really can't control that chocolate craving, try a piece of dark chocolate instead, preferably 70% cocoa or higher. (lifehack.org)
  • Theobromine is a compound found in cocoa powder and other chocolate products. (mydeardog.com)
  • If your dog ate cocoa powder or chocolate, call your vet immediately. (mydeardog.com)
  • The cocoa butter in chocolate affects how poisonous it is to dogs. (mydeardog.com)
  • The higher the cocoa butter content, the more toxic chocolate becomes. (mydeardog.com)
  • Cocoa butter is the fatty component of chocolate that gives it its smooth texture. (mydeardog.com)
  • The more cocoa butter a chocolate bar has, the more dangerous it is for dogs. (mydeardog.com)
  • Is Cocoa Butter And Chocolate Similar? (mydeardog.com)
  • At the same time, chocolate is the final product that contains cocoa butter, sugar, and other ingredients. (mydeardog.com)
  • They can be incorporated into batter or dough evenly and contain slightly less cocoa butter than chocolate bars, which helps them keep their shape when baked. (landolakes.com)
  • Also called German sweet chocolate, sweet baking chocolate contains 15% chocolate liquor, additional cocoa and sugar. (landolakes.com)
  • Very bitter in flavor, unsweetened chocolate contains 50% to 58% cocoa butter. (landolakes.com)
  • Although commonly referred to as "chocolate" because it is used like chocolate, it doesn't contain chocolate liquor or unsweetened cocoa. (landolakes.com)
  • Tempering chocolate ensures that the cocoa butter in the chocolate melts slowly. (landolakes.com)
  • For extra benefit, choose dark chocolate - it's delicious and loaded with health promoting flavonoids. (urbanmommies.com)
  • Can flavonoid-rich chocolate protect against heart disease? (nutraingredients.com)
  • A Belgian chocolate-maker has helped formulate a chocolate bar containing a higher dose of the protective compounds found in cocoa than in standard chocolate. (nutraingredients.com)
  • Even though this study involved only 11 participants, lead author Christian Heiss, M.D., Ph.D., pointed out that the results were in agreement with other studies indicating potential benefits from flavanol-rich foods, including cocoa and chocolate. (mongabay.com)
  • Dark chocolate, when consumed in moderation and with a high cocoa content (70% or more), can be a healthy addition to recipes. (katheats.com)
  • The darker the chocolate (% cacao), the higher in beneficial flavonoids it is. (guenergy.com)
  • For reference, unsweetened baking chocolate or raw cocoa powder is 100% cacao. (guenergy.com)
  • Gres Cacao - cacao seeds are used in the making of cocoa butter, cocoa, and chocolate. (healthinsiders.com)
  • So if you've heard good things about chocolate, it's pretty important to understand the differences between cocoa, cacao, and what they mean for your health. (ceres.co.nz)
  • The possible protective effect of cocoa on dental caries is receiving increasing attention, but previously published data concerning the anticariogenic effects of constituents of chocolate are conflicting. (bvsalud.org)
  • An early study indicated that a high sucrose diet was equally cariogenic in the presence or absence of cocoa bean ash 90 , while the incorporation of cocoa powder or chocolate into hamster diets was reported to reduce caries 78 . (bvsalud.org)
  • Similarly, it has been shown in vivo 85 that the CPI of chocolate with high cocoa levels was less than 40% that of sucrose (10% w/v) and also lower than chocolates containing low cocoa levels. (bvsalud.org)
Found7
  • The system for this is the arrival of nitric oxide which helps build vasodilatation One study found that following 2 hours of consuming cocoa, there was a lessening in LDL oxidation. (longislandholisticdoctor.com)
  • Phenylalanine, the chemical released by the body when you fall in love is also found in cocoa. (longislandholisticdoctor.com)
  • Recent research conducted by Colorado State found that cocoa might help people with insulin sensitivity. (longislandholisticdoctor.com)
  • They also found that cocoa might help women with premenstrual syndrome which is caused by low magnesium levels as cocoa can increase these levels. (longislandholisticdoctor.com)
  • Flavonoids are compounds that are found in plants. (sportskeeda.com)
  • A study to be conducted by the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK, will examine whether adding flavonoids found in cocoa to the diet, gives additional protection against heart disease on top of that provided by prescription drugs. (nutraingredients.com)
  • A study in older adults given high-flavanol cocoa found blood flow to the brain increased by 8% after one week and 10% after two weeks. (guenergy.com)
High5
Fatty2
  • This includes foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and vitamin K. (healthline.com)
  • Additionally, cocoa butter is a source of essential fatty acids, including omega-6 and omega-3. (mydeardog.com)
Metabolic1
  • In the follow-up study, the flavonoid-rich cocoa was associated with significant improvements in metabolic, oxidative stress, and inflammatory endpoints. (confectionerynews.com)
Procyanidins1
Ingredient1
  • The first ingredient is the cocoa bean, which is the basis of the product. (mydeardog.com)
Nitric oxide2
  • Circulating nitric oxide levels and blood vessel responses (flow-mediated dilation) were measured before drinking the cocoa and again two hours later. (mongabay.com)
  • Cocoa increases nitric oxide (NO) production, an important signaling molecule which enhances vasodilation and blood flow. (guenergy.com)
Humans3
  • however, one third of the lipid in cocoa butter is composed of the fat stearic acid, which exerts a neutral cholesterolemic response in humans. (marscocoascience.com)
  • Despite promising results in animal studies, only a limited number of observational studies have reported potential cancer preventive effects of flavonoids in humans. (oregonstate.edu)
  • Cocoa butter has a variety of benefits for both humans and dogs . (mydeardog.com)
Placebo2
  • The people were randomly assigned to receive beverages formulated with no cocoa (placebo), flavonoid-free cocoa, or flavonoid-rich natural cocoa. (confectionerynews.com)
  • The first group took a daily sugar pill or placebo, and the other group took a 500-mg cocoa flavanol supplement for three years. (sportskeeda.com)
Dietary3
  • Since the 1990s, there has been a growing interest in dietary flavonoids due to their likely contribution to the health benefits of fruit- and vegetable-rich diets. (oregonstate.edu)
  • However, whether dietary flavonoids are associated with the prevalence of DM remains controversial. (frontiersin.org)
  • The potential reasons for contradictory epidemiological outcomes on the association between dietary flavonoids and DM prevalence have not been determined. (frontiersin.org)
Insulin sensitivity1
  • Cocoa can improve insulin sensitivity and carbohydrate metabolism, imparting better blood sugar control at rest as well as during exercise. (guenergy.com)
Rich5
  • Results from the initial study showed that the flavonoid-rich cocoa group experienced improvements in levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and oxidative markers. (confectionerynews.com)
  • These findings are supported by similar research on other flavonoid-rich foods. (marscocoascience.com)
  • There has been much interest in the potential health benefits of flavonoids associated with fruit- and vegetable-rich diets. (oregonstate.edu)
  • Cocoa butter has a smooth texture and a rich, chocolatey flavor. (mydeardog.com)
  • Each participant drank flavanol-rich and flavanol-poor cocoa drinks during different testing sessions. (mongabay.com)
Biological1
  • Many of the biological effects of flavonoids appear to be related to their ability to modulate a number of cell-signaling cascades. (oregonstate.edu)
Content1
  • The brand uses Barry Callebaut's Acticoa chocolat, which uses special processing techniques to preserve cocoa flavanol content. (nutraingredients-usa.com)
Drinks1
Bean3
  • Cocoa is gotten from the cacao bean which is local to South America. (longislandholisticdoctor.com)
  • Cocoa butter is a natural fat that comes from the cocoa bean. (mydeardog.com)
  • Add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to your black bean soup or chili recipe (trust us, it's worth trying). (guenergy.com)
Foods1
  • From our studies, other foods containing flavonoids - such as strawberries , cocoa and raspberries - would be similar,' he said. (dailymail.co.uk)