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]. Inaba, Y.; Chen, J.A.; Bergmann, S.R. Prediction of future cardiovascular outcomes by flow-mediated vasodilatation of brachial artery: A meta-analysis. Int. J. Cardiovasc. Imaging 2010, 26, 631–640. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] [ PubMed]

The versatility of Aduna’s Super-Cacao Powder is quite impressive. With a recommended daily dose of just two teaspoons, it can be easily incorporated into a variety of foods and beverages. From cakes, biscuits, and brownies to sauces, smoothies, and ice creams, this cacao powder is the perfect addition to enhance your meals’ flavour and nutritional value. It’s also a great topping for cereals, yoghurts, porridge, and fruits, or can simply be used to prepare delightful hot chocolates, mochas, and other desserts. 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].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. Puzserova, A.; Bernatova, I. Blood Pressure Regulation in Stress: Focus on Nitric Oxide-Dependent Mechanisms. Physiol. Res. 2016, 65, S309–S342. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] 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.” 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.

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]. g cocoa powder (28.2mg epicatechin and 25.5 mg pB2/40 g) with 250 mL whole milk or water, during 3 weeks As an advocate for ethical and environmental sustainability, I always recommend selecting cocoa powder that is both organic and Fair Trade. Organic certification guarantees that the product was grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and Fair Trade certification assures fair pay for the farmers. Roasting: gently roasting the beans to remove bacteria and bring out flavour (this is when the high flavanol beans in our Super-Cacao are roasted using the innovative process to retain the high flavanol content) Processing Matters: Choosing natural, non-alkalized cocoa powder without added sugars or artificial ingredients is preferable for maximizing health benefits.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] All of the above show that procyanidin B2 has the capacity to inhibit the union of NF-κB to DNA and thus decrease the expression of genes involved in oxidation and inflammation processes of the metabolic syndrome. Curcumin and resveratrol (found mainly in grapes and wines) have also been studied for their potential inhibitory effect on NF-κB activation and translocation to the nucleus in TNF-α-stimulated adipocytes. Evidence showed that when cells were co-incubated with TNF-α and either curcumin or resveratrol, degradation of IκB was inhibited, as well as NF-κB nuclear translocation. In accordance with these observations, it was demonstrated that both curcumin and resveratrol were able to down-regulate TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2 gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, a significant reduction in secreted cytokine levels was also observed [ 64].