High Flavanol Hot Chocolate: Vascular & Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Harnessing the Health Benefits of High Flavanol Drinking Chocolate

Hot chocolate is a beloved cold weather treat around the world. But did you know that specially processed high flavanol hot chocolate offers unique health advantages?

Made fromminimally processed cacao beans naturally abundant in flavanols, this type of rich drinking chocolate provides anti-inflammatory and heart-helping antioxidants not found in your typical hot cocoa powder.

Read on to understand why high flavanol hot chocolate stands apart and how to use it to fight inflammation, boost heart health and tap into chocolates one-of-a-kind benefits.

What Gives High Flavanol Hot Chocolate Its Superpowers?

High flavanol hot chocolate starts with minimally processed raw cacao beans. Cocoa beans naturally contain very high levels of unique flavanol antioxidants with scientifically-demonstrated health benefits.

However, standard manufacturing processes destroy up to 90% of cocoas flavanol content. High flavanol chocolate producers use special methods to preserve these sensitive compounds.

By keeping more of cocoas inherent nutritional density intact, high flavanol hot chocolate delivers significantly more vascular, circulatory and anti-inflammatory benefits than regular versions.

Top 5 Perks of High Flavanol Drinking Chocolate

Here are 5 evidenced ways high flavanol cocoa can boost your health when enjoyed as a delicious hot chocolate beverage:

1. Lowers Blood Pressure

Several analyses of dozens of studies confirm flavanol-rich cocoa products reliably reduce blood pressure in both hypertensive and pre-hypertensive individuals.

2. Improves Blood Flow

High flavanol chocolate enhances nitric oxide levels, relaxes blood vessels and has been shown to markedly improve circulation and blood flow.

3. Raises HDL Cholesterol

Consuming flavanol-rich cocoa increases levels of HDL, the good heart-protective cholesterol, according to robust data.

4. Reduces Inflammation

The flavanols in minimally processed cacao have potent anti-inflammatory capabilities and reduce inflammatory biomarkers throughout the body.

5. Protects the Brain

From enhancing cognition to improving mood and mental performance, high flavanol chocolate shows brain benefits for healthy and compromised brains.

How To Choose the Best High Flavanol Hot Cocoa

Not all drinking chocolate is created equal when it comes to flavanol content and processing. Heres what to look for to maximize healthy cacao flavanols in your cup:

Check the Ingredients

Scan for 100% raw or minimally processed cacao and/or cocoa beans with no unnecessary ingredients added.

Maximize Fat Content

Higher fat cocoa contains more antioxidants, so opt for whole bean over defatted products.

Go Low-Temperature

Low-temp processing preserves delicate flavanols better than standard methods. Look for cold or raw on the label.

Buy Smaller Batches

Small batch chocolate makers tend to use gentler methods that retain more flavanols.

Read About Processing

Look for details on careful processing that maintains cacaos inherent nutritional density.

How To Prepare High Flavanol Drinking Chocolate

Follow these tips to get the most from your high flavanol hot chocolate experience:

Use Low Heating

Gently melt chocolate over low heat and stir frequently to prevent burning.

Maximize Fat & Thickness

Mix 2-4 tablespoons of chocolate per cup of hot milk or non-dairy milk. The higher fat content preserves antioxidants.

Sweeten Skillfully

Complement cacaos natural notes with maple syrup, coconut sugar or stevia instead of refined sugar.

Spice It Up

Accent chocolate with cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne, orange peel or mint for added flavor depth.

The Superior Nutrition of Minimally Processed Cacao

All chocolate originates from cacao beans, the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao is incredibly nutritious in its raw natural state, but common manufacturing methods degrade its delicate nutrition.

Roasting, fermenting, alkalizing and defatting cacao beans helps develop coveted chocolate flavors. But these processes also destroy vital flavanol and polyphenol antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, magnesium, iron and fiber naturally present in cacao.

High flavanol hot chocolate producers use ingenious techniques to preserve cacaos inherent nutritional density through careful low-temperature processing, attentive drying, controlled fermentation and ingredient integrity from start to finish.

This enables finished drinking chocolate to retain exceptional levels of health-enhancing cacao flavanols lacking in conventional cocoa powders and chocolate bars.

Cacao Flavanols: Natures Vascular Protectors

The key bioactive compounds concentrated in high flavanol chocolate are called flavanols. These unique antioxidant phytochemicals enhance health in multiple ways.

Flavanol-rich foods and drinks effectively preserve nitric oxide levels in your blood for extended periods. Nitric oxide is a short-lived vascular dilator critical for organ function, blood flow, muscle growth, nerve activity and more.

Through boosting and sustaining nitric oxide, cacao flavanols relax blood vessels, improve circulation, enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery, increase exercise capacity, strengthen muscle pumps and more.

Cacao flavanols also throttle back excess inflammation throughout the body via their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities.

The Antioxidant Power of Cacao Polyphenols

In addition to flavanols, high quality minimally processed cacao beans used in drinking chocolate contain exceptional levels of polyphenols.

Polyphenols are a special class of antioxidants with wide-ranging health benefits. From lowering diabetes risk to improving dementia and protecting the heart, polyphenol-rich diets are linked to profound health perks.

And cacaos concentration of polyphenols such as catechins, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and stilbenes is truly staggering - significantly greater than acclaimed foods like red wine, blueberries and black/green teas.

By opting for high flavanol hot chocolate, you harness far more of chocolates uniquely plentiful antioxidants than people consuming commercial chocolate products.

The Takeaway: Cacao-Rich Drinking Chocolate Offers Vascular & Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

With high concentrations of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavanols, polyphenols, fiber and minerals, pure minimally processed cacao delivers unmatched benefits for heart health, circulation, blood flow, exercise performance and immunity.

By preserving more of cacaos inherent nutritional bounty through careful production methods, high flavanol hot chocolate provides vascular, circulatory and anti-inflammatory benefits beyond standard cocoa powder.

Enjoy the lush flavor and warmth of antioxidant-rich high flavanol drinking chocolate to boost heart health, circulation and overall wellbeing.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.