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 »

An important new study of over 3,500 adults by researchers from Columbia University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard (part of the COSMOS study) found diets low in flavanols to be associated with age related memory loss. The study found that replenishing these nutrients with 500mg of cocoa flavanols, daily, improved performance on memory tests by… Read more »

Listen to top Sports Dietitian Matt Darnell answer these questions about leveraging cocoa flavanols among NFL players and how to boost your personal exercise performance (from the Intelligent Medicine Show with Dr. Ronald Hoffman). Matt is the Director of Sports Science at EXOS and previously the Dietitian for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Question 1: Are cocoa… Read more »

“Memory and your ability to focus are directly tied to healthy blood flow to our brains. The science is clear,” says Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Ferid Maurad, “our brains use roughly 20% of our body’s blood supply to power key functions like memory. The better the blood flow, the better your brain health.” Several clinical… Read more »

World-class triathletes like Lisa Bentley contend with extreme fatigue, injuries and self-doubt. But few face the remarkable challenge of also overcoming cystic fibrosis, an often-fatal disease that can produce severe breathing issues. Lisa leveraged the power of positive thinking and intense determination to become one of the world’s top ironman triathletes!  Please enjoy this recording of Lisa… Read more »

Exciting News, Flava Fans! On Feb. 3rd, 2023 the FDA approved a qualified health claim stating that “Cocoa Flavanols in High Flavanol Cocoa Powder May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease”.  The approved health claim is based on a 2018 filing stating that 200mg of cocoa flavanols can support heart health.  The FDA approved the claim but noted that… Read more »

February is American Heart Month so what better time to explore the extraordinary cardiovascular benefits of cocoa flavanols. Can you think of another nutrient, supplement or drug shown to reduce cardiovascular death by over 25% while also supporting exercise performance? Here is a look at five compelling cardio benefits of cocoa flavanols: 1. Decrease Risk… Read more »

Here are five important takeaways from the new U.S. dietary guidelines from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published in Advances in Nutrition: 400 to 600mg of flavanols, daily, are recommended for improved cardio metabolic health outcomes, including lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.  27% reduction in cardiovascular death observed in the COSMOS cocoa… Read more »

Did you know that cocoa flavanols have been shown to markedly increase circulating stem cells?   Stem cells are the body’s raw materials – cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated. William W. Li MD writes in his book “Eat to Beat Disease,” “Your immune cells are regenerated every seven days, so if… Read more »

Big news! New dietary guidelines issued by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommend consuming 400 to 600 mg/day of flavanols to improve cardiometabolic health! “Increasing consumption of dietary flavanols may help improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar,” manuscript authors wrote. “A continuously growing body of research demonstrates higher consumption may reduce the… Read more »

A recent systematic review of 19 studies concluded “cocoa flavanols may be a promising tool for managing cognitive decline”. Many of us have celebrated individual studies from Columbia and other research centers showing cognitive benefits with daily cocoa flavanol consumption.  But, of course, there have been a few negative trials as well; particularly those studying… Read more »

Did you know your arteries and vessels expand every time you climb a flight of stairs, go for a run or grab a workout? And did you know cocoa flavanols increase your artery flexibility to support the delivery of incremental oxygen and nutrients during physical exertion? OK, lets unpack this a bit further. The process… Read more »

Nope, your eyes are not playing tricks on you…your fave FlavaBars just got bigger and bolder!  Introducing our new, more flexible, sustainable packaging and snacking shape!  Same mouth watering taste and award-winning recipes. Same unmatched, performance fueling 500 mg of cocoa flavanols per serving. But now with:  New larger, scored bars with 2.5 servings per… Read more »

Cocoa flavanol impact on blood pressure is greatest when your blood pressure is elevated, according to a fascinating new study out of Surrey University in the UK. Professor Christian Heiss, who lead the study reports, “The positive impact of cocoa flavanols on our cardiovascular system — in particular blood vessel function and blood pressure, is… Read more »

Hey FlavaFans! Hope you’re enjoying a FlavaFul summer!  If you’re headed to the beach we’ve got you covered with easy to pack, refreshing FlavaJava/FlavaMilk, and some informative and engaging FlavaPod offerings for your listening pleasure: two recent radio interviews and a podcast on cocoa flavanols and Flavanaturals… Intelligent Medicine Radio National Radio Broadcast with Cocoa… Read more »

OK, by now you may have heard the headline finding of “27% reduction in cardiovascular death” among people taking daily flavanols in Harvard Medical School’s 21,400 person, 5-year, placebo controlled trial (COSMOS). But that’s just the beginning!  Below are our top five hidden gems from the study publication itself in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:… Read more »

Okay, like most of you, I consume Flava to be my best everyday, whether on my bike, writing a business plan, or hanging out with family, and because I love chocolate! But this chart from the Harvard COSMOS study shows that daily cocoa flavanols may also help you live longer. In fact, this data shows… Read more »