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Cocoa Science Overview – Proving Chocolate Is Truly Healthy?

February 10, 2016 by admin

Origins of Chocolate

Chocolate is a result of roasting, grounding, fermenting, and flavoring Theobroma cacao seeds. A little known fact is that Theobrama cacao actually means “cacao, food of the gods”. And recent science is proving that statement to be true, as the once widely held scientific belief that chocolate is bad for you is being phased out of modern science.

Anyways, back to history. Chocolate was introduced to the civilized world through the adventures of Christopher Columbus. During one such trek in 1502, he went to the New World (North, Central, and South America) and discovered cocoa beans. He took some of these beans and brought them to Spain. 19 years later, the Spanish took over the Aztecs and actual chocolate was brought to the civilized world (which, at that time, was Europe). It was mainly a luxurious beverage for the rich and privileged members of society.

Fast forward 372 years and a man named Milton Hershey develops methods to mass produce chocolate and turn it into a sugary snack for everyone, regardless of wealth class. The name Hershey may ring a bell since one of the biggest chocolate making companies bears his namesake.

Quick Facts About Chocolate

Your typical cheap chocolate bar isn’t the healthiest choice. Instead, find chocolate with high cocoa content. It may have a more bitter taste than the usual chocolate bar, but it’s much healthier for you.

You can actually greatly reduce your blood pressure levels by eating chocolate that has a high concentration of flavanols on a regular basis. Cocoa is one of the biggest sources of flavanols in chocolate, so this fact goes hand-in-hand with the one above.

If you spend four weeks eating two chocolate bars every single day of those weeks, you will see a decrease in the amount of low-density lipoproteins in your body. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are often referred to as “bad cholesterol” and can lead to heart problems.

Did you know that more Nobel Prize winners have come from countries that eat more chocolate? Legitimate statistics actually show this. Is it just a case of “correlation, not causation”? It may seem that way, but scientific studies have actually shown that chocolate boosts your ability to learn and understand things.

Dark chocolate has a high amount of iron and is one of the healthiest forms of chocolate on the market.

Chocolate is incredibly popular worldwide – it transcends the many differences between cultures and lifestyles. Did you know that West Africa is the world’s largest producer of chocolate? It’s weird to think about that, since chocolate came from the Americas, but it’s true. Up to 70 percent of the world’s cocoa supply is made in West Africa.

The Science

Various scientific studies back up the notion that cocoa lowers the blood pressure of those that consume it. One such study found that consuming cocoa products can also reduce cardiovascular mortality. The best part is that the effects of cocoa on cardiovascular did not change at all, regardless of how physically fit a person is. The effect remains the same.

Additionally, since cocoa contains high amounts of flavanols, high consumption of cocoa leads to a widening of blood vessels. This is how cocoa is able to reduce your blood pressure levels. However, only chocolate with high amounts of cocoa can provide these benefits, as chocolates low in cocoa also have a much lower amount of flavanols (obviously).

An analysis of 20 studies pertaining to the effects of flavanols on blood pressure revealed the existence of “a statistically significant blood pressure reducing effect of flavanol rich cocoa products compared with control in short term trials of 2-18 weeks duration.”

An extensive four-week scientific study found that eating chocolate bars with high amounts of flavanols on a regular basis have other benefits as well. These benefits include a reduction in both the amount of serum in your body as well as lower levels of LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol).

As stated earlier, reducing your LDL levels can also reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Yes, contrary to past beliefs, chocolate can actually be good for your heart, if you eat the right kinds.

Many scientific trials have proven the beneficial effects of flavonoids as it pertains to lowering the odds of developing dementia. In addition to that, flavonoids have proved beneficial in boosting the ability to learn and comprehend things as well. Guess what? Flavanols are a type of flavonoid and cocoa is one of the biggest sources of flavanols.

Remember when I said that more Nobel Prize winners come from countries who consume more chocolate? A study was actually done to test this and found that consuming 400 more grams of cocoa per capita annually would produce one more Nobel Prize winner from that country. Now obviously, there are other factors in place that may skew these findings, but it’s an interesting find nonetheless.

Another interesting find made by a completely different study relates to the effect that high chocolate consumption has on one’s body mass index. Amazingly enough, the study found that frequent consumption of chocolate actually results in a lower body mass index. Wait, eating a bunch of chocolate doesn’t make us fatter? Whoa! Chocolate is high in calories, but the chemical makeup of chocolate disables those excess calories from having a negative effect on our weight.

In fact, the people in the study who didn’t consume chocolate frequently had a higher BMI than those who frequently consumed it. This study completely shatters those widely held beliefs of the past that said that chocolate made you fat. Other studies have also been done to substantiate these findings – no discrepancies here. These findings prove that there is more to controlling your weight than just counting calories and staying away from foods high in calories. In fact, it has more to do with what is inside those foods that you eat.

The Chocolate Health Science Verdict

Chocolate is not bad for you. It’s the conclusion that people all around the world previously could have only dreamed of hearing. But science has proven it to be true. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should go and pig out on chocolate. Ensure that you aren’t eating cheaply made chocolate. Make sure it is rich in cocoa so that you actually receive the benefits mentioned in this article.

The best part of this is that you don’t even have to limit chocolate consumption to once a week. Nope, you can eat cocoa products multiple times during the week and it’s actually recommended that you do so to receive the maximum effects of those benefits. So, chocolate has been proven to make us smarter, skinnier, and less at risk for nasty heart and cardiovascular illnesses.

It really is the food of the gods after all…

CocoaVia Cocoa Flavanols Supplement Review – Does It Work?

January 8, 2016 by admin

CocoaVia Review

While chocolate may have a bad reputation in the health world, the truth is that there are actually some benefits to consuming chocolate. That is if it’s the right type of chocolate. That’s exactly what CocoaVia, a company that sells chocolate dietary supplements, claims about their products.

According to CocoaVia, the benefits of chocolate come from cocoa flavanols. CocoaVia claims to have a high concentration of these flavanols in their product, which have a variety of health benefits that you can feel within days.

What are Flavanols?

In order to understand flavanols, you need to understand flavonoids. Flavonoids are a very diverse class of natural occurring plant-based compounds found in vegetables. Flavanols are a specific type of compound within the flavonoid family, and the three most common are found in tea, red wine, and of course – cocoa.

Cocoa flavanols are unique in that they are only found in the cocoa bean. No other foot can match the unique blend of flavanols found in cocoa beans. According to some research, these flavanols have a unique set of benefits, particularly relating to the heart.

What Is CocoaVia?

CocoaVia is a brand of supplements that contain pure cocoa flavanols meant to support your overall wellness and health. Using modern manufacturing processes and advanced scientific methods, CocoaVia has managed to create a supplement that has the highest concentration of cocoa flavanols. This maximizes the potential benefits that CocoaVia products may have on your health.

CocoaVia comes in capsule or powder form, and you can choose which form you’d like based on your own personal tastes. If you choose the powder form, you have a few flavors to choose from, and from the customer reviews we’ve read, customers seem to love the taste.

Potential Benefits of CocoaVia

The true benefits of cocoa flavanols are only being discovered as we speak. The COSMOS study is the largest study to ever involve cocoa, and researchers are hopefully we can definitively determine the heart and cancer related benefits to CocoaVia.

CocoaVia really only makes one claim about their product, and that’s that it is scientifically proven to support healthy circulation, which supports cognitive, skin, cardiovascular, immune, and digestive health. In other words, cardiovascular health is the key to your overall health.

This is particularly true according to several studies, and your performance during exercise, as well as your skin, eye, and muscle health are influenced by your circulation. Essentially, having a healthy blood flow is the only way to truly have a healthy body.

In addition to cardiovascular health, there are some other potential benefits to taking cocoa flavanols. One study suggested that sex drive and performance could be influenced by taking cocoa flavanols because cocoa flavanols contain compounds that act as natural aphrodisiacs.

Another small study found that taking cocoa flavanols improved memory in older adults. In the study, adults who took cocoa flavanols performed better on memory tests than those who did not.

Most of the research involving cocoa flavanols is still preliminary or small in nature, but one thing is certain – they CAN support cardiovascular health and healthy blood flow.

Are There any Side Effects of CocoaVia?

Many people have expressed concerns over whether or not CocoaVia products are safe. However, we have found no mentions of any nasty side effects, or any problems in general.

As long as you are not allergic to cocoa, then you’ve got no problem taking CocoaVia. We quite literally could not find one report of any serious side effects, which further attests to how incredible cocoa flavanols really are.

Where to Buy CocoaVia Products?

CocoaVia sells their products directly on their website, as well as major online retailers like Amazon. Admittedly, CocoaVia supplements are among the most expensive cocoa flavanol products, but the quality is hands-down the best. You may be paying a premium, but you’re paying for quality, which in our minds is always worth it.

For your reference, a 30-day supply of CocoaVia capsules will run you about $35, and a 30-day supply of powder will cost slightly more around $45. If you set up auto-delivery, you can cut the cost about 15-20% as well, although this will cause you to receive monthly shipments.

Conclusion: Should You Buy CocoaVia Products?

The debate about cocoa flavanols may still go on, but one thing is certain – customers seem to love CocoaVia. The support and testimonials from customers has been overwhelming, and the number of people that have improved their health as a result of taking CocoaVia is astounding.

Because of that, we think CocoaVia products are definitely worth trying. CocoaVia offers a 60-day money back guarantee anyways, so you’ve got plenty of time to check their products out for yourself. However, as so many others have found, we think you’ll love CocoaVia products and all of the health benefits they can provide you.

Improved Memory Loss

October 29, 2014 by admin

Cocoa Flavanols For Memory Loss

Have you ever forgotten where you left your keys? Do you know what it is like to realize you don’t remember exactly where you parked your car? If you have, don’t worry because you are by no means alone. Common forgetfulness and memory loss occur to everyone – especially the elderly.

The good news is research shows that a delightful solution is in the horizon: chocolate!

Cocoa Flavanols Research

Current studies strongly indicate that chocolate contains cocoa flavanols which improve neuronal connections and increase blood flow in a distinct area of the brain. This area is essential to memory. Brain scans and memory tests have affirmed this as well.

A study showed that a daily drink of 900 mg of flavanols over a three-month period significantly improved the memory of participants. When pattern recognition tests were administered at the end of three months, the adults who had received a consistent dose of flavanols did better than those who did not. They also showed improved memory compared to their own performance before the trial.

Other studies done on mammals likewise showed that flavanol intake decreases neurodegeneration and helps improve learning and retention of spatial memory.

Nature’s Amazing Ingredient: Cocoa Flavanol Extract

Flavanols or flava-3-ols are naturally occurring compounds that contain, among others, catechin, gallates, theaflavins, thearubigins, and numerous enzymes. Flavanols are present in several fruits. Among these fruits are pomegranates, apples, blackberries, and red grapes.

However, for chocolate lovers, nothing beats the news that nature has provided the world with chocolate flavanols.

Improved Memory and Other Benefits

The seed of the cacao fruit is believed to contain flavanols that are rarely, if at all, present in other sources. These compounds provide many benefits for those who consume substantial amounts of cocoa flavanols.

The most amazing discovery at the moment is the way cocoa flavanol intake increases blood flow in the dentate gyrus, the part of the brain which is responsible for an individual’s ability to distinguish one object from another. The action of the flavanols on the brain also strongly suggest that cocoa flavanols may be just the right intervention to prevent and perhaps reverse the memory loss identified with aging.

Cocoa flavanols have been proven to help the circulatory system so that oxygen is delivered efficiently to different organs and tissues. One of the proven cocoa flavanols benefits is the way regular intake keeps arteries flexible.

Other studies suggest that cocoa flavanol, a staple drink among the Kuna of San Blas, Panama, may be the reason for the low incidence of deaths due to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer among this particular population.

Determining the Daily Cocoa Flavanol Dose

The discovery of health benefits from cocoa flavanols naturally leads to questions about what type and how much chocolate individuals need to take daily. First of all, the usual chocolate bar and chocolate cake probably won’t do if these are made with the usual processed cocoa. In fact, in these preparations, most, if not all, of the cocoa flavanols may have been inadvertently removed.

To derive desired benefits, the cocoa has to be processed differently. In addition to the way the cocoa is processed, the per serving amount of flavanols has to be radically increased. For example, most chocolate bars contain only about 40 milligrams of the compound, while 900 milligrams was used in studies as a daily dose to achieve the recorded effects.

An individual would need to eat more than 20 chocolate bars daily to obtain the necessary flavanols to boost memory, and eating chocolate would no longer be fun.

This implies that the next step for chocolate manufacturers is to level up on the flavanol content of products so that they are closer to the 900 milligram benchmark established by the study. Such a step would reinvent chocolate as it is known today and turn it into the best loved wonder food of the century!