Newswise — While most people don't associate heart health with chocolate—Americans can rest assured—especially during American Heart Month—that they can enjoy the satisfaction of delicious chocolate while promoting their own heart health.
While most chocolates aren't considered heart or waist-friendly, certain chocolate snacks such as CocoaVia®, deliver a unique combination of cocoa flavanols, the potentially heart-healthy compounds that are found naturally in cocoa beans, and natural plant extracts proven to lower cholesterol, in a serving size of only 80-150 calories.
"Heart Health Month is a perfect time to focus on all the fundamental things that may contribute to a healthy heart and learn new ways to stay healthy," said Robyn Flipse, RD. "Exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the fundamentals to heart health. And, exciting research suggests that consuming foods rich in cocoa flavanols, such as CocoaVia®, may improve blood vessel and platelet function. These effects may have important implications for maintaining and perhaps even improving cardiovascular health. Cocoa flavanols are a natural next step in nutrition."
No "Dark" Side to Chocolate
It may come as a surprise to chocolate lovers that it's not strictly the "milk" or "dark" chocolate that influences the amount of these potentially heart-healthy compounds, but it's the way the cocoa is processed from bean to finished product. A common misconception is that only dark chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa is rich in flavanols. Mars, Incorporated has researched cocoa for more than 15 years. Through this work, Mars found that it is the level of flavanols in the cocoa, not the percent of cocoa that truly matters. Additionally, through its research, Mars, Incorporated has found a way to keep both milk and dark chocolate lovers happy by pioneering a new technology to retain more cocoa flavanols when the cocoa is processed. CocoaVia® Milk and Dark Chocolate varieties contain the same guaranteed level of 100 milligrams of cocoa flavanols per serving.
Cocoa Flavanols: The Science behind CocoaVia®
Mars, Incorporated has taken a leadership role in the growing body of research on cocoa. To date, a number of studies suggest that the consumption of cocoa flavanols can have important effects on the body's network of blood vessels. This research not only suggests that cocoa flavanols may provide a dietary approach to maintaining cardiovascular function and health, but also suggests new possibilities for cocoa flavanol-based treatments for diabetes, stroke, and other vascular diseases.
Research Shows that CocoaVia® Lowers Cholesterol
One published study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association and another presented in 2007 at the interdisciplinary scientific meeting Experimental Biology demonstrated that the regular consumption of the CocoaVia® snack and dark chocolate products, as part of a heart-healthy diet, significantly lowered both total and LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, without impacting HDL or "good" cholesterol.
In the study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 67 men and women with elevated cholesterol (>200 mg/dl total cholesterol) were instructed to consume twice daily either the CocoaVia® snack bar, or a snack bar formulated without plant sterols (natural plant extracts known to help reduce cholesterol). At the end of six weeks, total cholesterol levels had decreased, on average, by 4.7 percent, and LDL levels, on average, had decreased by 6 percent in the group who regularly consumed the CocoaVia® snack bar formulated with plant sterols. Those who consumed the bar without plant sterols did not experience any significant reduction in either total or LDL cholesterol levels.In another study, findings were similar where researchers found that those who included CocoaVia® dark chocolate bars in their diet experienced a 2 percent reduction in total cholesterol and a 5 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol.
About the Products
Each serving of all CocoaVia® products contains at least 100 milligrams of cocoa flavanols. And, while each serving is packed with potentially heart-healthy flavanols, CocoaVia® brand snacks have less fat and fewer calories compared to many regular, larger-sized chocolate bars.
CocoaVia® Milk Chocolate Bars contain 110 calories, CocoaVia® Snack Bars contain 80 calories, and the Original CocoaVia® Chocolate Bars contain 90-100 calories per serving. Additionally, CocoaVia® brand snacks are fortified with calcium and a mix of heart-healthy nutrients, including folic acid, vitamins B-6, and B-12, as well as antioxidant vitamins C and E.
Look for CocoaVia® products in both milk and dark chocolate varieties, as well as CocoaVia® Rich Chocolate Indulgence beverage in the health and nutrition aisle in grocery, drug, convenience stores and mass merchandisers. For more information on CocoaVia® or to find a store near you, visit www.cocoavia.com.
About Mars US
Mars US is the United States food, snack and pet care operations of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's leading food manufacturers. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the U.S., the combined food, snack and pet care segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Mars US employs more than 9,000 associates in the United States, with 52 facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world's favorite brands, including M&M'S® Brand, SNICKERS® Brand, UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats.
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