Aduna Super-Cacao Powder | Natural Raw African Cacao Powder for Cardiovascular Health | Ghanaian Low Cadmium Cacao | 275g Resealable and Recyclable Pack

Product Information

It is well known that when membrane fluidity decreases it is more prone to be oxidized. Instead, when fluidity increases membrane lipids are less exposed to oxidation. The effects of cocoa procyanidins on bilayer fluidity and susceptibility to oxidation have been studied using predominantly Jurkat T cells and liposomes. Cocoa derived dimers showed to protect Jurkat T cells from AMVN (2,2’-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile)-mediated oxidation and to increase membrane fluidity, measured by a decrease in 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence polarization. It was proposed that this effect could be mediated through complex interactions of dimers with membrane proteins, rather than lipids [ 37]. Grassi, D.; Necozione, S.; Lippi, C.; Croce, G.; Valeri, L.; Pasqualetti, P.; Desideri, G.; Blumberg, J.B.; Ferri, C. Cocoa Reduces Blood Pressure and Insulin Resistance and Improves Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in Hypertensives. Hypertension 2005, 46, 398–405. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed][ Green Version] Hermann, F.; Spieker, L.E.; Ruschitzka, F.; Sudano, I.; Hermann, M.; Binggeli, C.; Lüscher, T.F.; Riesen, W.; Noll, G.; Corti, R. Dark chocolate improves endothelial and platelet function. Heart 2006, 92, 119–120. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef][ Green Version] Until now, the most studied direct effects of cacao flavanols are related to their antioxidant capacity. It is well documented that the latter depends on their aromatic rings with hydroxyl substituents, which give flavanols an adequate configuration to act as electron donors (e −) and thus stabilize free radicals [ 18].

Consumption of 3 cocoa doses in subjects with LDL ≥3.23 mmol/L, resulted in significantly ↓ serum [LDL], after 4 wk Wholefood Earth’s Organic Alkalised Cocoa Powder is a standout product that offers many nutritional benefits while maintaining a high quality and taste. Alkalised cocoa, also known as Dutch-processed cocoa, is a type of cocoa powder that has been treated with an alkalizing agent to modify its colour, taste, and solubility. The process was first developed in the 19th century by a Dutch chemist named Coenraad Johannes van Houten, hence the name “Dutch-processed.” Phosphorylation and activation of Akt kinase (Ser 473) and AMPK by EGCG are implicated in the phosphorylation and inhibition of FOXO1 (Thr 24), which results in nuclear exclusion of this transcription factor and in its dissociation from hET-1 promoter [ 56, 57]. The alkalization process neutralizes the natural acidity of cocoa beans, resulting in a cocoa powder that is less bitter and more mellow in taste than natural cocoa powder. Alkalised cocoa also has a darker color, often ranging from a reddish-brown to a deep, dark brown, depending on the level of alkalization.It does clump together a bit, but they explain that this is because they extract the cocoa butter using pressure, not heat, so it is truly organic and contains more enzymes and nutrients. Comparative, double-blind study in normo and mild hyper cholesterolemic japanese subjects ( n = 160) Cacao trees grow in tropical climates all over the world. Two thirds of the world's cocoa supply comes from West Africa, where up to 90% of cacao is produced on small, family-owned farms. L-arginine is a key substrate for eNOS endothelial production of NO. Limited availability of this amino acid changes the functional profile of eNos and instead of oxidizing L-arginine, the enzyme reduces molecular oxygen to O 2 −. The latter reduces NO bioavailability by rapidly reacting with it to form ONOO − [ 59]. Vascular arginase competes with eNOS for their common substrate L-arginine. During inflammation and cellular oxidation, the increase in the concentration of arginase is linked to a decrease in the availability of L-arginine, a decreased synthesis of NO, an increase in ROS production, and endothelial dysfunction.

The high-flavanol powder in Aduna Super-Cacao is made from specially selected cacao beans that have been chosen because they have the highest naturally-occurring flavanol content. These beans are then roasted very gently using an innovative processing technique, which ensures the powder retains at least 2x more flavanols than regular cacao. Learn more about the health & beauty benefits of Aduna Super-Cacao here. Texture and Mouthfeel: Smooth and velvety, the texture of Knoops’ Dark Chocolate Luxury Hot Chocolate coats your palate luxuriously. It glides effortlessly across your tongue, creating a pleasurable mouthfeel that enhances the overall experience. This was confirmed when the interaction of flavanols and procyanidins (dimers to hexamers) with liposomes (composed of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserin) did not influence its membrane fluidity or lipid lateral phase separation [ 39].

Article Menu

Rodriguez-Mateos, A.; Vauzour, D.; Krueger, C.G.; Shanmuganayagam, D.; Reed, J.; Calani, L.; Mena, P.; Del Rio, D.; Crozier, A. Bioavailability, bioactivity and impact on health of dietary flavonoids and related compounds: An update. Arch. Toxicol. 2014, 88, 1803–1853. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] Gottdiener, J.S.; Kop, W.J.; Hausner, E.; McCeney, M.K.; Herrington, D.; Krantz, D.S. Effects of mental stress on flow-mediated brachial arterial dilation and influence of behavioral factors and hypercholesterolemia in subjects without cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Cardiol. 2003, 92, 687–691. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] Firstly, let’s talk about the type of cocoa powder. You’ll find two main types in the market: natural and Dutch-processed. My personal preference leans towards the natural variety, given its acidic and slightly bitter taste, which delivers a rich, deep chocolate flavour. Dutch-processed cocoa powder has a neutral pH, resulting in a milder, smoother flavour. AL-Ishaq RK, Abotaleb M, Kubatka P, Kajo K, Büsselberg D. Flavonoids and their anti-diabetic effects: cellular mechanisms and effects to improve blood sugar levels. Biomolecules. 2019;9(9):430. doi:10.3390/biom9090430 Robbins, R.J.; Leonczak, J.; Li, J.; Johnson, J.C.; Collins, T.; Kwik-Uribe, C.; Schmitz, H.H. Determination of Flavanol and Procyanidin (by Degree of Polymerization 1–10) Content of Chocolate, Cocoa Liquors, Powder(s), and Cocoa Flavanol Extracts by Normal Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: Collaborative Study. J. AOAC Int. 2012, 95, 1153–1160. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed]

Martin, E.A.; Tan, S.-L.; MacBride, L.R.; Lavi, S.; Lerman, L.O.; Lerman, A. Sex differences in vascular and endothelial responses to acute mental stress. Clin. Auton. Res. 2008, 18, 339–345. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef][ Green Version] The health benefits of Aduna’s Super-Cacao go beyond heart health. It also improves the elasticity of arteries, enhances blood circulation, and supports gut health. Moreover, this cacao powder is rich in mood-boosting compounds, protein, fibre, antioxidants, magnesium, and potassium. All these nutrients contribute to a myriad of health benefits, including skin health and reduced anxiety. Poitras, V.J.; Pyke, K.E. The impact of acute mental stress on vascular endothelial function: Evidence, mechanisms and importance. Int. J. Psychophysiol. 2013, 88, 124–135. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] Panche AN, Diwan AD, Chandra SR. Flavonoids: an overview. J Nutr Sci. 2016;5:e47. doi:10.1017/jns.2016.41 Lundberg, J.O.; Govoni, M. Inorganic nitrate is a possible source for systemic generation of nitric oxide. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2004, 37, 395–400. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef]Effect of preincubation of Jurkat T cells (further incubation with or without the addition of either TNF-α or PMA) Pretreatment of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) with (-)-epicatechin prevented oxLDL-elicited down-regulation of eNOS protein and partially the up-regulation of iNOS protein, thus shifting the eNOS/iNOS ratio toward preferencial expression of eNOS protein [ 67]. Previous in vitro studies studied the effect of other flavonoids on the vascular bioavailability of NO and the activity of endothelin-1 (ET-1). The latter is a powerful vasoconstrictor produced in the blood vessel walls that increases the production of O 2 − through the endothelin receptor A (ETA)/NADPH oxidase pathway. Vascular dilatation is critically impaired by an upregulated ETA in association with a reducing nitric oxide bioavailability. In a study of vascular endothelial cultures, it was reported that green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) stimulates the production of NO through the activation of the Fyn/PI3K/Akt/nitric oxide synthase and down-regulation of ET-1 gene and protein expression [ 57]. Moreno-Ulloa, A.; Romero-Perez, D.; Villarreal, F.; Ceballos, G.; Ramirez-Sanchez, I. Cell membrane mediated (−)-epicatechin effects on upstream endothelial cell signaling: Evidence for a surface receptor. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2014, 24, 2749–2752. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef][ Green Version]