Cocoa flavanols HF, 60 capsules

Vitals’ Cocoa Flavanols-HF is rich in cocoa flavanols

When taken daily at a dose of 200 mg, these flavanols help to maintain the elasticity of blood vessels, which promotes healthy blood flow. This product utilises the high-quality CocoActiv™ cocoa extract, which has also been used in scientific studies.

Chocolate is popular for its taste, and dark chocolate is often associated with health benefits. However, its nutritional value varies greatly. Many chocolates contain little cocoa and consist mainly of sugar and fat. As a result, the healthy plant compounds in cocoa are scarcely present and are masked by the unhealthy ingredients. Cocoa Flavanols-HF offers a way to obtain the beneficial compounds from cocoa without the drawbacks of sugar, unhealthy fats and high calorie content.

Cocoa: Food of the Gods

Cocoa originates from Central and South America and was highly prized by the Maya and Aztecs. Although cocoa is now mainly used for chocolate, the cocoa beans themselves are a natural source of various active plant compounds that give it its characteristic bitter taste. The amount of flavanols in cocoa depends heavily on where it comes from and how it has been processed. Many of these delicate plant compounds are lost during fermentation, roasting and further processing. For this reason, cocoa and chocolate products often contain varying and rather low levels of flavanols. To consume as many of these healthy polyphenols as are contained in one capsule of Cocoa Flavanols-HF, one would have to eat a very large amount of dark chocolate.

Good for the blood vessels

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has confirmed that cocoa flavanols are good for your health because they help blood vessels to function normally. Cocoa flavanols support processes in the blood vessel walls that control whether the vessels dilate or constrict. The inner layer of the blood vessels, the endothelium, is very important. It helps with the production and action of nitric oxide (NO), a substance in the body that relaxes the blood vessels. Cocoa flavanols promote these NO processes in the endothelium. Effective NO action is crucial for supple, elastic blood vessels and normal blood circulation. Furthermore, flavanols reduce oxidative stress in the vessel walls, which supports the normal function of the endothelium .
Because of these proven effects, the EFSA has concluded that 200 mg of cocoa flavanols per day help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and thus promote normal blood circulation.

CocoActiv™: a high-quality extract from cocoa beans

CocoActiv™ is a carefully produced cocoa bean extract. It is made using cocoa beans that have been neither fermented nor roasted, as these standard steps reduce the natural bioactive polyphenols in the cocoa. Afterwards, the majority of the fat is removed and the flavanols are concentrated using a special extraction process. The result is an extract that is rich in cocoa flavanols and preserves their natural profile. The cocoa bean extract is standardised, which means that each dose contains a consistent amount of flavanols.

CocoActiv™ has been investigated in several studies, which the EFSA used as the basis for its assessment of the health claim regarding cocoa flavanols. The EFSA’s checks are known to be extremely rigorous; even health claims regarding vitamins or medicinal herbs, which have been very well supported by studies, have not been approved in the past. Therefore, when the EFSA officially approves a new claim, it must, without exception, be absolutely accurate.

Nutritional properties

• Cocoa flavanols help maintain the elasticity of blood vessels and thus contribute to normal blood circulation.
• This beneficial effect is achieved with a daily intake of at least 200 mg of cocoa flavanols.

Key ingredients

* No reference amount specified under the Food Information Regulation (LMIV)

Ingredients

Cocoa bean extract (Theobroma cacao, seeds), vegetable capsule (pullulan, from fermented starch), rice starch (Oryza sativa), anti-caking agent (magnesium salts of fatty acids).

Recommended intake

Take 1–2 capsules per day with water, with a meal.

Storage instructions

Store in a cool, dry place away from light (not in the fridge).

Legal information

Do not exceed the recommended daily intake. Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of young children.