Flavanol facts
Cocoa, derived from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, is rich in procyanidins (a type of dietary flavonoids) and flavanols, which are natural compounds also found in purple or red fruits, vegetables, and plants.
Flavanols are known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties that may lend neuroprotective properties by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Cocoa may also promote neurogenesis and improve blood flow.
COSMOS
A recent sub-study involved 573 participants in the large COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) who received daily supplementation with a cocoa extract supplement containing flavanols and underwent multiple in-person cognitive tests to determine the supplement’s effects on cognitive aging.
The results indicated that older adults who had low diet quality “showed suggestive benefits for cognitive function” when supplementing with 500 mg cocoa extract daily for a period of two years. Similar results were observed in the web-based cognitive assessment of a different set of COSMOS participants.
Supporting research
A different study, conducted in 2022 and published in Behavioral Neurology, reported on the cocoa flavanols present in dark chocolate and their potential for improvements in brain health, including cognitive function and fatigue, in middle-aged adults.
The study concluded that the flavanols in dark chocolate may help reduce fatigue in adult participants, which in turn, may lead to improvements in brain health, various cognitive functions, and quality of life.
Cocoa-infused health products
Cocoa-based products that contain the benefits of the health-giving cocoa seed, including flavanols, may be beneficial for both cognitive and cardiovascular health. So give cocoa-based health products such as supplements, extracts, and protein powders a shot to boost your brain health. And who doesn’t love a square of dark chocolate every now and then—everyone’s favorite “cocoa-based health product”?
