Goetz, M.E.; Judd, S.E.; Safford, M.M.; Hartman, T.J.; McClellan, W.M.; Vaccarino, V. Dietary flavonoid intake and incident coronary heart disease: The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2016, 104, 1236–1244. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef][ Green Version] Individual Considerations: When incorporating cocoa powder into your diet, it’s essential to consider personal health conditions, allergies, and dietary preferences. A study in healthy volunteers analyzed the postprandial profile of (-)-epicatechin plasma metabolite profiles after oral consumption of a cocoa beverage. Through the combination of different enzymatic hydrolysis (arylsulfatase and β-glucuronidase) and the use of de novo chemically synthesized reference standards, it was possible to identify and measure 8 circulating postprandial (-)-epicatechin metabolites. As reported in previous studies, (-)-epicatechin-3′-β-D-glucuronide was the most abundant metabolite, followed by (-)-epicatechin-3′-sulfate and 3′-O-methyl-(−)-epicatechin-5/7-sulfate. It was also shown that O-sulfonation is a key conjugating reaction in the metabolism of (−)-epicatechin in humans, since the group of (−)-epicatechin sulfates resulted in being the most diverse [ 29].

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. The three main cultivars of cacao beans are: Criollo, Forastero and Trinitario. However, with the aim of increasing production and resistance to pests, new varieties have been created from the three original cultivars. Forastero is the most widespread (mainly in Africa) and used around the world, due to its high adaptability and resistance to pests. Criollo is native from Mexico, Central and South America. It is considered the most ancient cultivar and is appreciated for its high quality, flavor and aroma. However, its production represents only 5% of the world cacao beans production, due to its low resistance to pests. Trinitario is a hybrid between the Criollo and Forastero trees that combines good-quality flavor and aroma with pest and disease resistance [ 1, 2]. Faridi, Z.; Njike, V.Y.; Dutta, S.; Ali, A.; Katz, D.L. Acute dark chocolate and cocoa ingestion and endothelial function: A randomized controlled crossover trial. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2008, 88, 58–63. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed][ Green Version] Spieker, L.E.; Hürlimann, D.; Ruschitzka, F.; Corti, R.; Enseleit, F.; Shaw, S.; Hayoz, D.; Deanfield, J.E.; Lüscher, T.F.; Noll, G. Mental Stress Induces Prolonged Endothelial Dysfunction via Endothelin-A Receptors. Circulation 2002, 105, 2817–2820. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed][ Green Version] Cocoa powder can be a part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. Here are some points to consider: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.”

Consumption of 3 cocoa doses (normo and mild hypercholesterolemic subjects) resulted in ↑ serum [HDL], compared with baseline after 4 wk Regarding the absorption of procyanidin B2, it has been reported that it is less efficiently and less rapidly absorbed than epicatechin (5%–10% of the absorbed concentration of (-)-epicatechin), and, therefore, its human and rat plasma concentration is lower (10–40 nM/L) [ 27, 32]. De Geus, E.J.; Willemsen, G.H.; Klaver, C.H.; Van Doornen, L.J. Ambulatory measurement of respiratory sinus arrhythmia and respiration rate. Biol. Psychol. 1995, 41, 205–227. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] In terms of solubility, alkalised cocoa dissolves more easily in liquids than natural cocoa, making it a popular choice for recipes that call for a smooth texture, such as hot cocoa, sauces, and ice creams. Leor, J.; Kloner, R.A. The Northridge earthquake as a trigger for acute myocardial infarction. Am. J. Cardiol. 1996, 77, 1230–1232. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef]The proposed mechanism by which (−)-epicatechin inhibits Nox activity involves a decrease in the expression of its cytoplasmic subunit (p47 phox), which acts as an adaptor protein that facilitates activation of gp91phox (membrane-bound subunit) [ 56]. Moreover, it has been shown that pretreatment with (-)-epicatechin suppresses the NADPH-oxidase-mediated generation of O 2 − elicited by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or angiotensin II in endothelial cells [ 54]. Methylated epicatechin metabolites proved to be Nox inhibitors (100 μM) without O 2 − scavenging activity Bergovec, M.; Mihatov, Š.; Prpić, H.; Rogan, S.; Batarelo, V.; Sjerobabski, V. Acute myocardial infarction among civilians in Zagreb city area. Lancet 1992, 339, 303. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] Monahan, K.D.; Feehan, R.P.; Kunselman, A.R.; Preston, A.G.; Miller, D.L.; Lott, M.E.J. Dose-dependent increases in flow-mediated dilation following acute cocoa ingestion in healthy older adults. J. Appl. Physiol. 2011, 111, 1568–1574. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef][ Green Version]

Origin and Quality: Knoops’ commitment to sourcing single origin cocoa from the Solomon Islands is commendable. The volcanic soil of Guadalcanal, where the cocoa is cultivated, imparts a distinct character to this hot chocolate. The evident dedication to quality shines through in every sip. 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. Bondonno, N.P.; Dalgaard, F.; Kyrø, C.; Murray, K.; Bondonno, C.P.; Lewis, J.R.; Croft, K.D.; Gislason, G.; Scalbert, A.; Cassidy, A.; et al. Flavonoid intake is associated with lower mortality in the Danish Diet Cancer and Health Cohort. Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 3651. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed][ Green Version] Low Sugar and Additives: To maximize health benefits, it is important to choose cocoa powder with low sugar content and no added artificial additives. Excessive sugar consumption is associated with various health issues, so opting for unsweetened cocoa powder allows you to control the amount of sweetener used in your preparations.Despite touting research evidence, the FDA took issue with General Mills’ claim because if eating a bowl of Cheerios every day really could lower cholesterol levels, then the cereal would have to qualify as a drug, not a food. Strike, P. Systematic review of mental stress-induced myocardial ischaemia. Eur. Heart J. 2003, 24, 690–703. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef][ Green Version]