Cocoa Beans

Have you ever heard of Flavonols? Flavonols are a chemical found in great abundance in various teas including black tea, green tea. You can also find a great amount of flavonols in red wine and dark chocolate. So what’s so great about flavonols? Flavonols offer health improvements and benefits to  people who suffer with heart disease. Flavonols aide in the reduction of blood pressure and improving the health blood vessels, which in term may improve the health of those with heart disease. Researchers fomr the University of California, San Francisco, did a study which found that high amounts of flavonols in the diet doubles the circulation of angiogenic cells in the bloodstream. Angiogenic cells help maintain and restore the interior lining of the bodies arteries. In doing so, this protects the artieries from atherosclerosis and other damage. During this study, researchers provided volunteers with a cocoa drink with 375 mg of flavonols each day. Depending on cultivation conditions and manufacturing processes,  flavonol amounts can vary greatly in teas, wines and chocolates. A cup of green tea contains approximately 56 to 511 mg of flavonols. 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of dark chocolate contains approximately 43 to 63 mg of flavonols . Want to get flavonols from chocolate but avoid the fat? Just add a scoop of nonalkalized cocoa powder to your beverage. Cocoa powder has more of the heart-healthy flavonols than chocolate bars do.