Marrying chocolate and wellness: The Functional Chocolate Company debuts range targeting women’s health

11 Feb 2021 --- The Functional Chocolate Company is marrying health benefits with indulgence in its first range of chocolates.

The US-based newcomer says its four offerings address the most-cited conditions that impact women: PMS, menopause, low-libidos, and stress and anxiety.

“Each bar has a thoughtfully formulated ‘stack’ of plant-based active ingredients designed to work synergistically for maximum effect,” CEO and co-founder Nicole Smith tells NutritionInsight. 

The company’s COO and co-founder Chris Peruzzi spent several years designing the formulations.

He notes that combining chocolate with active nutraceuticals creates an indulgent and especially effective experience, as the natural healthy fats in the chocolate act as a carrier to improve the bioavailability of the other ingredients.

“It also makes it more likely that customers actually consume it regularly for their best desired individual effects and benefits,” he says.

Addressing PMS and menopause
The company says that by bringing together indulgent chocolate with clinically researched ingredients and powerful botanicals that cater to specific symptoms, chocolate now does more than ever before. 

These curated confectionary creations are designed to work synergistically to solve a range of common concerns.

For example, the ginger-flavored Rhythm bar aims to restore balance related to PMS, mood swings, cramps, weight fluctuations and appetite changes.

It incorporates a blend of vitamins and botanicals, including SaffSerene. Derived from saffron flowers, it has been clinically shown to provide a 50 percent reduction in the severity of PMS symptoms, help support a healthy mood and balance stress levels.

Meanwhile, older women facing menopause can turn toward the Hot Chocolate bar, which has a natural vanilla crème brûlée flavor.

The formulation pairs a blend of botanicals with Estro-G 100, which has been shown to reduce hot flashes by 65 percent, fatigue by 67 percent and joint aches by 65 percent. 

This is while promoting healthy mood balance, focus, bone density and energy levels, but without affecting hormone production. The bars are available in fully customizable individual boxes.

Getting in the mood
The Functional Chocolate Company’s Sexy bar features a champagne and berry flavor and is touted as “unleashing sensuality.” It pairs a blend of botanicals, vitamins, and amino acids with Libifem. 

The natural fenugreek extract has been shown to help promote feelings of intimacy, healthy female desire and experience. Earlier this year, Gencor gained four Canadian health claims for Libifem related to libido and menopause. 

Finally, consumers looking for a calmer state of mind can turn to Carefree, which comes in a mellow mint truffle flavor. It uses herbs, botanicals and clinically researched Pharma Gaba and Suntheanine L-Theanine, which have been shown to promote an alert state of relaxation without drowsiness.

Smith explains that each bar’s flavor is based on the active ingredients in each variety. For example, Carefree’s flavor is inspired by the English peppermint oil and lemon balm in its formulation.

“Meanwhile, our Rhythm bar contains a ginger extract. Instead of trying to cover up the ginger, we embraced it and offered a ‘Ginger Snap’ flavor.”Regardless of positioning, all the existing products are safe for anyone over 12 years of age.

Addressing an “underserved” market
Women’s health remains traditionally underserved, argues Smith. “We saw an opportunity to address some of the most common ‘health realities’ that affect women on a daily basis.” 

She flags that the bar for stress and anxiety is gender-neutral, and the company has additional gender-neutral and segment-specific offerings in development. For example, energy and sleep formulations are set to be the next launches. 

Additionally, all the existing products are safe for men, women and children over 12 years of age. Up to three bars can be consumed per day without reaching a maximum dose. Anyone over the age of 12 can safely consume all of the products simply as a treat, regardless of the stated effects.

All of the bars are made with Fair Trade 60 percent cacao from a cooperative of South American farmers. They are plant-based and free from cholesterol and gluten. 

The bars are now shipping within the US, and the company has plans to expand distribution internationally.

Tapping into the functionality of chocolate
While Smith has come across a few other functional chocolate offerings, she notes that this is still a very limited market. However, industry has been increasingly blurring the lines between health and indulgence, especially around chocolate. 

In November, Phenolaeis unveiled a functional dark chocolate that boasts heart and cognitive health benefits. The offering is touted as having an indulgent taste with less bitterness.  

Smith also points out that dark chocolate is already a functional food due to its high flavanols, antioxidants and minerals, including magnesium, zinc, iron and copper.

“Therefore, including additional beneficial ingredients is a natural approach,” she concludes. 

By Katherine Durrell