Exciting new research shows that 1,000mg of cocoa flavanols daily boosts VO₂ max by an impressive 12%!  VO₂ max (short for maximal oxygen uptake) is the single most important indicator of aerobic fitness and longevity. Key Study FindingsAfter just one month of consuming 1,000 mg of cocoa flavanol daily, participants: In short, cocoa flavanols helped… Read more »

Exciting news on the blood sugar front, FlavaFans! A new study, following 192,000 healthcare professionals over decades, shows regular dark chocolate consumption (5 or more times per week) reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 21%, compared to those who rarely or never eat chocolate. “Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, is rich in bioactive compounds called flavonoids, such… Read more »

More great study results, FlavaFans! The latest, out of the University of Birmingham, found that high flavanol cocoa protects our bodies against the negative effects of fatty foods and stress. In fact, artery flexibility increased over 20% in the high flavanol group while declining nearly 20% in the low flavanol group after the combination of a high fat meal and stressful… Read more »

Exciting new data from the massive 21,000 person COSMOS cocoa flavanol study (Harvard Medical School) shows a significant and meaningful 15% reduction in the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) among those assigned to consume 500mg of cocoa flavanols, daily. AFib is a common heart rhythm disorder characterized by rapid and irregular heartbeat. Importantly, the benefit… Read more »

You’ve read it here, now watch world renowned functional food scientist Dr. William Li discuss how cocoa flavanols benefit stem cells and longevity with Dr. Mark Hyman, international functional medicine leader and 14X NY Times best-selling author! Click Here  to watch! Dr. Li discusses an intriguing study showing that circulating stem cells nearly doubled following… Read more »

Emerging research suggests that cocoa flavanols may exert protective effects against stroke. This includes the recent COSMOS study from Harvard Medical School showing a 25% reduction in the number of strokes among participants consistently consuming 500mg of cocoa flavanols, daily. The COSMOS study also showed a similar reduction in all major cardiovascular events. Stroke, a… Read more »

Watch 83-year-old Pittsburgh Steeler’s neurosurgeon and Ironman triathlete, Dr. Joe Maroon, share his insights on both brain and cardiovascular benefits of cocoa flavanols.

By supporting improved blood flow, nutrient delivery, and energy efficiency, optimizing NO levels can help you unlock your full potential in the gym and beyond

Watch a day in the life of track star Kassidy Johnson as she trains for the upcoming U.S. Olympic trials, including how she fuels with flavanols! Click Here to Watch Kassidy shattered the Rutgers University school records at both 800 and 1,500 meters in 2023 and is now sharply focused on training for the upcoming… Read more »

You’ve heard it from us, now hear it from renowned longevity guru, Dr. Peter Attia (author NY Times #1 best seller, Outlive)! Attia discusses non-pharmacologic blood pressure management, specifically breaking down how cocoa flavanols reduce blood pressure, with Dr. Rhonda Patrick on her award-winning FoundMyFitness podcast. Click Here to watch! Studies suggest that cocoa flavanols lower blood pressure by increasing nitric oxide production, improving… Read more »

I had the pleasure of meeting Rod at the Falmouth Road Race Expo (at our booth!) five years ago and we have been good friends ever since. A generational talent, Rod is perhaps best known for his epic come from behind win in the 1983 NYC marathon. Rod is an inspiration, not only for his… Read more »

Let’s drink to a happy and healthy new year (FlavaMix smoothies, that is!). We talk a lot about performance on this blog, and living your best life, the operative word there being living. Now we have more data that strongly supports how consuming cocoa flavanols daily reduces strokes, major cardiovascular events and even death, drastically!… Read more »

OK, you guessed it – cocoa flavanols top the list! But keep reading for four other important ways to boost your nitric oxide to promote exercise performance, cognition, cardiovascular health, energy, and sexual function (men and women)! For all of these benefits, nitric oxide (NO) has been dubbed the ‘miracle molecule’. It was even named … Read more »

Imagine turning back your biological clock, boosting your physical performance and health, to levels you enjoyed 10 to 20 years ago. Does that sound too sci fi? In fact it just might be possible! And including cocoa flavanols daily seems to be an important variable in this new longevity equation. Bryan Johnson, the 45 year-old… Read more »

The new FDA qualified health claim — “Cocoa Flavanols in High Flavanol Cocoa Powder May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease” — defines high flavanol cocoa powder as containing at least 4% naturally conserved cocoa flavanols. Standard cocoa powder generally contains only 1% to 1.5%.  But good news, FlavaFans! FlavaMix Performance Cocoa Powder contains nearly 8% naturally conserved cocoa flavanols, roughly… Read more »

Great news Flava fans! A new placebo controlled study of 60 healthy, middle-aged women from Japan shows cocoa flavanols statistically increase positive mood states while reducing negative mood (e.g., depression, fatigue, and anger). This was achieved by consuming a high flavanol cocoa beverage daily, for eight weeks. The study was recently published in the journal… Read more »

OK, we may be a little biased, but comparing the clinical studies, proven benefits and flavor of chocolate vs. beets, it is hard to deny cocoa flavanols BEAT beets! Why the comparison? Turns out cocoa flavanols and beetroot share a similar mechanism, both boosting nitric oxide. And nitric oxide (a.k.a. the miracle molecule) increases circulation,… Read more »

We are excited to share that FlavaNaturals is collaborating with WomenHeart and the University of Pennsylvania on a real world test of cocoa flavanols and everyday heart health.  WomenHeart is the leading heart health advocacy group for Women in the country and has a team of several hundred trained, passionate WomenHeart Champion educators supporting their… Read more »

We spend lots of time in this newsletter writing about the health and performance benefits of cocoa flavanols. But what are flavanols? Flavanols, a subclass of flavonoids, are plant-based, health-supporting nutrients naturally found in green tea, blueberries, grapes, apples, and, of course, cocoa. Cocoa flavanols are a unique blend of flavanols that include single compounds… Read more »

A 1% gain in the flexibility of your arteries lowers your risk of a cardiovascular event (e.g. heart attack, stroke) by about 12.5%, according to pooled data from 49 studies with over 20,000 participants (published in the Journals of the American Heart Assn. and the Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging). Cocoa flavanols (900mg daily) have shown… Read more »