Research conducted by scientists at the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition and published in the February 2011 issue of the Chemistry Central journal demonstrates that cocoa powder offers significantly more antioxidant power per gram than the powder forms of superfruits such as acai, blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate.
The research adds additional weight to the 20-year observational study of cocoa consumption led by Harvard University's Dr. Norman K. Hollenberg, which found that the Kuna Indians, particularly those living on the San Blas Islands off the Panama Coast, have healthier hearts and good circulatory health as they age. The Kuna's daily consumption of five cups of cocoa was of special interest to researchers of cardiovascular health. According to the Harvard study, Kuna islanders experience 1/9 the rate of heart-related conditions and 1/16 the rate of other age-related conditions as mainlanders.
"We are excited to introduce the CocoaWell™ supplement line following this latest validation of cocoa's high antioxidant potency," said Naomi Whittel, founder of the CocoaWell brand, which supplies products to Reserveage Organics and ResVitale for GNC. "CocoaWell is the fair trade, efficient way to add the antioxidant-rich cocoa 'superfruit' to the diet—without the calories, fat and sugar of chocolate," she explained. "One 450mg capsule contains the flavanol antioxidant equivalent of eight 100 gm. bars of dark chocolate." At the recent Natural Products Expo West (March 11-13 in Anaheim, CA), Reserveage Organics officially launched three CocoaWell products:
1) Maximum Potency Organic Cocoa with 450mg Pure Plant Flavanols
Indulge in the significant health properties of cocoa without the saturated fat and calories associated with chocolate. Our 100% Pure and Organic Cocoa from the rainforests of South America is infused with Green Tea and Acacia Catechu—some of nature's richest sources of pure plant flavanols.
2) True Energy with AdaptoStress3
True Energy represents the latest innovation in energy supplementation. It provides energy that fuels your body, all while reducing the effects of daily stress. Our exclusive AdaptoStress blend delivers extracts of three of the most powerful adaptogenic herbs available today, including Ashwagandha, Rhodiola and Schisandra, and all natural caffeine from InnovaTea.
3) Advanced CoQ10 Heart
This breakthrough formula represents one of the latest innovations in heart-healthy supplementation. Our formula is the first to combine heart-healthy cocoa and plant flavanols with CoQ10. It contains 200mg of CoQ10 per serving and a high-potency flavanol complex with green tea and acacia catechu to provide maximum cardiovascular support.
According to Whittel, CocoaWell will contribute three percent of product profits to the non-profit Kuna Institute (www.kunainstitute.org), which she founded this year with the approval and encouragement of the ruling Kuna chiefs. The Kuna Institute is dedicated to helping replant thousands of cacao trees where the Kuna live, providing the people with new jobs and steady income, and enabling them to pursue their traditional livelihood of cocoa harvesting.
Whittel said the CocoaWell brand was founded with a mission "to improve the cocoa farmer's livelihood, promote responsible business practices, and source only certified fair trade, non-GMO cocoa beans, free of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and synthetic fertilizers."
CocoaWell products are available at fine health food stores nationwide, including GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, and independent retailers.
For more information on CocoaWell products, visit http://www.reserveage.com/cocoawell and http://www.resvitale.com/cocoawell/.
