New research from Mass General Brigham Hospital shows that cocoa flavanol consumption (500mg daily) supports longevity by reducing age associated inflammation. In fact, cocoa flavanols lowered hsCRP – an inflammatory marker that signals increased risk of cardiovascular disease – by 8.4% each year vs. placebo!
Low grade inflammation is one of the hallmarks of aging—what researchers call inflammaging. It’s strongly linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and death.
The findings, published in the journal Age and Ageing, come as a sub study of the landmark COSMOS trial and build on the 27% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death observed in the broader study. “This study calls for more attention to the advantage of plant-based foods for cardiovascular health, including cocoa products rich in flavanols,” said corresponding author Howard Sesso, lead investigator of COSMOS and an associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Participants in the inflammaging study, 598 men and women with an average age of 70, consumed either 500mg of cocoa flavanols or placebo, daily, for approximately 3 years.
This compelling new data provides strong evidence that cocoa flavanols help fight age-related inflammation linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and overall mortality. Yet another reason to enjoy your daily cocoa flavanols!