Flavor and flavanols make smart sense
You’ve heard me extol the virtues of dark chocolate with at least 65 percent cocoa, but now I’ve got some smarter reasons to enjoy this wonderful treat.
Working to serve us better are a dedicated group of researchers who create ongoing studies on the health benefits of this versatile product. Good work when you can get it, huh?
Some of these dedicated researchers are looking at chocolate’s derivative, cocoa. Just think of cocoa as chocolate minus a lot of the fat. They want to see if cocoa contains some of the same health benefits, even though it’s only a derivative.
A study was done to test the effect of cocoa on blood flow to the brain. A group of women was divided into two groups, with one group receiving cocoa high in flavanols to drink, and the other receiving no cocoa to drink. Their brains were looked at with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while they were given difficult tasks to complete.
The group of women who had the cocoa to drink had a significant increase in blood flow in the brain and in promoting overall cardiovascular health.
I’ve talked to you before about chocolate containing an important antioxidant in the form of flavanols. Well, it is present in the original cocoa beans, and is retained in the cocoa form.
This is good news for more reasons than one. Yes, I’m already a fan of chocolate, but that’s not the main reason. I’m excited about any news that could help solve practical problems: Namely, a wave of aging population that is upon us. Dementia is a huge concern for this group, and anything that can improve brain performance is something we can all applaud. And if it also promotes cardiovascular health, so much the better, as heart disease is the number one killer of Americans.
Most cocoa that is currently mass marketed is “Dutch Processed” and low in flavanols. You can obtain premium cocoa powder that is high in flavanols and comes unsweetened from companies such as Rapunzel, Scharffen Berger or NOW. Try sweetening to taste with a little honey or raw cane sugar. I personally find pre-sweetened products have way too much sugar. However, I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to exchange a little bitter for the sweet of having a healthy brain and heart.
