Intake of Cocoa Flavanols Is Good for Heart Health - Top Universities and Mars Unveil New Research Into Health Benefits of Cocoa Flavanols
Universities of Düsseldorf and Reading, along with Mars, have shown that cocoa flavanols can help keep our hearts healthy
Dusseldorf, Germany, Sept. 9, 2015 /3BL Media/ - The University of Dusseldorf, the University of Reading and Mars, Incorporated have unveiled two new studies revealing that cocoa flavanols can help to keep our hearts healthy. Cocoa flavanols are nutrients found naturally in the cocoa bean.
The research, published in the journals Age and the British Journal of Nutrition (BJN), show that consuming cocoa flavanols can decrease arterial stiffness and increase blood vessel function in healthy people, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease — the number one cause of deaths worldwide.
Mars and the universities conducted the research as part of the FLAVIOLA consortium - a pan-European research project that looks into the benefits of flavanols.
“With the world population getting older, the incidence of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and stroke will only increase,” says Professor Malte Kelm, Professor of Cardiology, Pulmonary Diseases and Vascular Medicine at University Hospital Düsseldorf and Scientific Director of FLAVIOLA. “It is therefore pivotal that we understand the positive impact diet can have on cardiovascular disease risk. As part of this, we want to know what role flavanol-containing foods could play in maintaining the health of the heart and blood vessels.”
Flavanols are a distinct group of naturally occurring compounds that can be found in a variety of foods such as tea, red wine, blueberries and raw cocoa. Cocoa is an especially rich source of flavanols, and the specific mixture of flavanols that is found in cocoa is unique. Many studies show cocoa flavanols have a range of health benefits, including improved blood flow and cardiovascular health.
For more information, visit Mars Center for Cocoa Health Science at www.marscocoascience.com.
Find out more about the European FLAVIOLA project here.
About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned business with more than a century of history and some of the best-loved brands in the world including M&M’S®, PEDIGREE®, DOUBLEMINT® and UNCLE BEN’S®. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars has more than $33 billion in sales from six diverse business segments: Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. More than 75,000 Associates across 73 countries are united by the company’s Five Principles: Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality and Freedom and strive every day to create relationships with stakeholders that deliver growth we are proud of as a company.
For more information about Mars, Incorporated, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
