Longevity Molecules V: Cocoa Flavanols
Conquering Cardiovascular Disease and Boosting Brain Health / Performance
Enjoy today’s complementary Longevity ToolKit! Get a 90% dark chocolate square and enjoy the weekend. Speaking of brain health, did you read this week’s feature?
“Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine.”
–Geronimo Piperni (1796)
You may call Geronimo a romantic….but he was on to something. The Theobroma cacao tree (translates to “food of the gods”) is the wondrous source of cocao (chocolate!) and has been considered a medicinal herb for thousands of years. Even the Mayans recognized and harnessed its immense healing powers. Where do its rejuvenative powers come from, you ask?
Similar to the four other longevity molecules we covered within this series, it comes from polyphenols found within the cocoa beans of the cacao tree. The cocoa bean is high in a subclass of polyphenols called flavanols, and in particular, the flavanol epicatechin. This particular flavanol has caught the attention of some serious longevity researchers. Accordingly, it is a prime focus of the National Institute of Aging’s Intervention Testing Program which evaluates the lifespan and healthspan promoting effects of dozens of longevity compounds.
Dietary flavonoids are found in the plants we eat, including many fruits and vegetables (tea, berries, apple, cocoa). Of all these sources, cocoa flavanols are unique because they are the most bioavailable, meaning that our bodies are more easily able to absorb them, maximizing their benefits.
Learn More: Flavanols: Prolonged intake of flavanol-rich cocoa has been linked to cardiovascular health benefits.
The longevity promoting benefits of cocoa flavanols are mediated through its effects on the cardiovascular system and the brain. Emerging research has revealed that cocoa flavanols increase levels of circulating nitric oxide - a key factor in maintaining the health of our vascular system (blood vessels and endothelial cells). We have miles of blood vessels in our body that stretch from the tips of our toes all the way up to our brain. Therefore, the health of our vascular system literally impacts every single organ in our body (i.e. bones, muscles, heart, brain, etc). By targeting our bodies' super-highway, cocoa flavanols have the opportunity to have a major impact on our overall rate of biological aging.
One of the most compelling aspects of cocoa flavanols are its fascinating effects on brain health, performance, and mood. And this is not completely out of the blue. It has been known for some time that chocolate increases levels of “feel good chemicals” in the body such as endorphins and endocannabinoids (some that activate the same receptors as marijuana). It’s no wonder that data shows that individuals tend to eat more chocolate in the winter – subconsciously using cocoa flavanols to help fight those winter blues!
Cocoa flavanols have also been shown to suppress key regulators of the inflammatory response (i.e. TNF-alpha) and increase blood flow to areas of the brain involved with memory, learning, and problem solving. Compromised blood flow and neuroinflammation are two major drivers of neurodegenerative diseases. The potential of cocoa flavanols is so vast that it is currently being tested in several clinical trials to evaluate its effects on addressing mild cognitive impairment – the first stage of alzheimer’s disease. And initial results are promising!!
If you are an avid reader of our newsletters and toolkits, you’ll know how passionate we are about women’s health and longevity. The final aspect of cocoa flavanols that make them so compelling to us, is that they seem to have enhanced cognitive benefits in women. This is particularly important as women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men, and they also exhibit a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Both effects can be combated with the right cocoa flavanol regimen! This is the key point we will be addressing for this Longevity Molecules V: Cocoa Flavanols feature.
What dosage of cocoa flavanol do I need for longevity benefits?
Can I get enough from chocolate?
What brand of supplement is best?
How frequently should I be taking cocoa flavanol?
When is the best time to take cocoa flavanols to optimize performance?
Who is most likely to benefit from cocoa flavanol supplementation?
How do I measure if I am actually increasing cocoa flavanols in my body?
How can I enhance the bioavailability of cocoa flavanols?
. . . . and more!
Sweet-tooth’s around the globe rejoice, you are not going to want to miss this!