Cocoa Flavanol Benefits

Cocoa Flavanol Benefits

If you’ve paid any attention to the health world lately, then you’ve probably already heard of the latest super food to take over the market. Believe it or not, new research has shown that certain kinds of cocoa contain a powerful compound called flavanols, which have incredible benefits.

What Are Cocoa Flavanols?

Flavanols are a group of compounds found in several types of food groups. They are a distinct group of compounds in the flavonoid family and are predominately found in tea, red wine, and cocoa.

New research suggests that Cocoa Flavanols may have incredible health benefits when consumed on a daily basis.

What Can Cocoa Flavanols Do For Your Health

Some of the most recent research has shown that Cocoa Flavanols have almost a dozen known benefits including the following:

Improved Memory: In a recent study, participants given just 10mg of flavanols a day dramatically outperformed a group given placebos. Just how much better did they do? Researchers gave participants a pattern recognition test and the flavanol group outperformed the placebo group by 25%.

In addition, researchers also noted that the flavanol group’s performance was more in tune with people two or three decades younger. After an MRI was completed, the flavanol group had a much higher activity level in the dentate gyrus part of the brain, which is linked to the formation of memories.

Improved Immune System Function: Flavanols work together with antioxidants in you body to boost the function of immune system. You may be able to fight off sickness and disease much more efficiently and may even be able to prevent the likelihood of getting sick as well.

Lower Cholesterol Levels: Cholesterol is an important compound in your body that has a variety of functions. However, the wrong type of cholesterol can actually be very dangerous. Thankfully, research has shown that cocoa flavanols actually eliminate healthy cholesterol to improve the health of the entire cardiovascular system.

Improved Circulation: Dark chocolate, which is rich in flavanols are clinically proven to support a healthy circulation. It is believed that flavanols help eliminate plaque and cholesterol from the bloodstream, which enables blood to flow much more easily. In addition, this improved blood pressure and cholesterol as well!

However, improved circulation doesn’t just benefit your heart, it benefits your whole body. Since your circulation is much more efficient, vital nutrients can reach various parts of your body like your brain, stomach, and lungs. This enhances your overall health.

How To Consume Cocoa Flavanols

To really experience the benefits of flavanols, you need to find pure cocoa flavanol. Your average candy bar isn’t going to cut it, so don’t start gorging yourself on chocolate.

In fact, it would take 25 full size Hershey’s bars to consume 900mg of cocoa flavanol – the amount of cocoa flavanol used in studies.

While research is still new, there are plenty of cocoa flavanol supplements available on the market. We personally recommend you look for a supplement that has 100% pure cocoa extract.

This can help you experience the amazing brain and heart benefits of cocoa flavanols, without the risk of any side effects.

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Cocoa Weight Loss

October 28, 2014

Chocolate For Weight Loss

We know this seems like an oxymoron, but it is true. Dark chocolate contains a high level of Cocoa Flavanols that in research has proven to help boost weight loss results.

Not only that, but a recent study came out showing the decrease in memory loss while taking a supplement with Cocoa Flavanols Extract!

Weight Loss From Chocolate

Eating chocolate can help you lose weight. Dark chocolate, that is. The somewhat bitter substance that is at least 70% cocoa. Not the much more popular heavily sweetened types of chocolate.

Many studies have found that individuals who consume a small amount of dark chocolate daily are less likely to become overweight, and are more likely to lose excess weight than non-chocolate consumers.

Reduces Appetite

The effect on body weight is in part due to the fact that dark chocolate is very satiating. It makes you feel full. This full feeling is produced by the protein, fats and fiber found in dark chocolate.

If you feel fuller, you're less likely to snack the day away. Another way in which dark chocolate may help with weight loss is it makes people feel happier. It has a definite mood-enhancing effect. Stressed, unhappy people are more likely to gain weight.

Eating a chunk of dark chocolate daily also improves symptoms of insulin resistance. This effect is probably a combination of the healthy fats in the chocolate reducing insulin spikes and the direct effect of some chemicals found in cocoa called flavenols on blood sugar.

The chocolate diet

Neuroscientist Dr. Will Clower suggests eating a small amount of dark chocolate about 20 minutes before each meal, and then another small piece at the end of each meal. The pre-meal chocolate induces you to voluntarily eat less at the meal. The post-meal chocolate prevents blood sugar spikes from occurring in response to the food consumed at the meal.

Blood sugar spikes encourage your body to turn calories into fat and can lead to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and eventually diabetes.

Flavenols

Foods rich in flavenols have many health benefits. In addition to weight loss, they lower blood sugar, improve memory and boost heart health. Cocoa Beans are one of the richest sources of flavenols ever discovered.

It contains a complex mixture of flavenols. Some researchers believe that some specific flavenols called oligomeric procyanidins are the ones most active in promoting weight loss.

However, most likely the complex mixture itself is necessary to produce the full effect of chocolate on appetite, mood and blood sugar.

Can You Lose Weight With Chocolate

Unfortunately, chocolate cannot be used as a substitute for exercise. One randomized controlled trial assigned individuals to various combinations of exercise and chocolate and measured their cardiovascular health and body fat content.

This study found that chocolate with a high flavenol content improved blood circulation, but it did not improve cardiovascular health as much as exercise did. Combining chocolate and exercise did not seem to enhance the effects of exercise, either.

In addition to its effects on weight and blood sugar, dark chocolate is a very nutritious food all on its own. It is loaded with fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese and other important minerals. The fats in cocoa are of the heart-healthy type.

And of course cocoa is loaded with healthy antioxidants and chemicals such as polyphenols and the previously mentioned flavenols. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants per ounce than blueberries and Acai berries.

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