Flavanol-rich products might lower blood pressure and improve insulin resistance- study
Initial findings offer additional support to the 15 years of research that Mars, Incorporated and its university collaborators have pioneered into understanding the health benefits of cocoa flavanols.
19/07/05 A new study published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association, conducted by Tufts University in Boston and the University of L'Aquila in Italy, suggests that consuming flavanol-rich products might lower blood pressure and improve insulin resistance among people with hypertension.
These initial findings offer additional support to the 15 years of research that Mars, Incorporated and its university collaborators have pioneered into understanding the health benefits of cocoa flavanols. Cocoa flavanols are the naturally-occurring compounds found in certain cocoas that appear to be the key to driving heart health benefits.
With more than 30 patents related to cocoa flavanols, including a process to retain much of these compounds during processing of the cocoa - Mars has pioneered cocoa flavanol scientific research for more than 15 years in partnership with some of the world's most respected universities and institutions, including Harvard University and the University of California, Davis.
The Mars Nutrition for Health & Well-Being business unit has already launched its first great tasting snack called CocoaVia(TM), available online at www.cocoavia.com. With 80 calories per serving and a nutrition profile that includes heart healthy ingredients, vitamins and minerals with a premium chocolate, rich in the flavanols preserved by a special process, it is the only global brand purposely designed to deliver both chocolate pleasure and real heart health benefits. CocoaVia(TM) will be followed by a number of food solutions targeting a variety of nutritional needs and benefits in the months to come.
Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's top producers of chocolate, and with a strong commitment to health research, is the leader in the science of cocoa, chocolate and health. Mars uses patented and proprietary methods of processing cocoa beans to retain as much of their naturally occurring flavanols as possible, marking these products with the Cocoapro(R) seal, a hand holding a cocoa bean to signify the careful handling.
