Cocoa helps prevent cardiovascular disease

BY JULIE SEAMER
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008

Latest research on flavanols the antioxidant component of cocoa beans, has shown that drinking cocoa could improve artery function and help relieve stress on the heart.

Also found in tea, red wine, certain fruits and vegetables, flavanols are the compounds responsible for cocoa's healthful benefits. The American College of Cardiology has found that after diabetics drank specifically formulated high-flavonol cocoa for one month, blood vessel function improved from severely impaired to normal.

Similar results have previously been found with exercise and many common diabetic medications however these findings were just as significant.

Professor and chairman of cardiology, pulmonology and vascular medicine at the University Hospital Aacehn in Germany Dr Malte Kelm MD reports "Medical treatments alone often don't prevent complications of diabetes that are associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Physicians should be increasingly looking to lifestyle changes and new approaches in addressing diabetic associated risks".

Dr Kelm tested the effects of cocoa with varying flavonol contents in patients with type 2 diabetes. A flavanol content of 321mg per serving was considered high, compared to a low dose of only 25mg per serving. Patients drank three servings of either a high or low flavanol cocoa over a 30 day period. Effects were gauged using a 'flow-mediated dilation" which evaluates the ability of the arteries to dilate in response to increased demand for blood, oxygen and nutrients.

Type 2 diabetic patients normally have severely impaired response. Over time, however, the patients drinking the high-flavanol cocoa improved consistently thereby significantly reducing their risk of heart attack, need for bypass surgery or catheter procedure to open clogged coronary arteries and even death from heart disease.

It has been noted that diabetics are an ideal population in which to study the effects of flavanols on arterial function, because high blood sugar damages the endothelium thereby increasing risk of cardiovascular problems.

While these findings don't suggest that diabetics should start drinking hot chocolate all day long, the results demonstrate that dietary flavanols might have an important impact as part of a healthy diet in the prevention of cardiovascular complaints.

Abundant Earth Organic Break Cocoa Powder is made from the finest rich-in-quality organic cocoa beans, grown without the use of chemical pesticides, fertilisers or genetically modified ingredients. Containing 100% organic Dutch-process cocoa it offers a very high 336mg of flavanols per serving (14g).