The Best Cacao for Stem Cell Support

Over the past several blogs, we’ve discussed in detail many of the various health benefits high flavanol cocoa can provide to those making it a regular part of their diet. From skin health to heart health to a lowered blood pressure and reduced risk of many types of chronic disease, decades of research now supports the myriad ways high flavanol cocoa can help lead you toward reaching your health goals. With this article, we want to answer the answer the question, what is the best cacao for stem cells? 

What isn’t discussed as much when talking about the benefits of high flavanol cacao, however, is its effect on stem cell growth and support. Indeed, more recent studies into the effects of cocoa flavanols such as epicatechin and catechin are beginning to suggest that, through promotion of the body’s natural regenerative processes, high flavanol cocoa powder can help with the release of stem cells into the blood as well. Support of stem cells, which help heal the body by turning into many different types of cells and replacing those that become damaged, may prove another area in which high flavanol cocoa is broadly beneficial. Read on for a more in-depth look on cacao and stem cells:

Perhaps more so than any of high flavanol cacao’s other studied potential benefits, it’s understandable to come across the purported link between high flavanol cocoa and stem cells and be unsure as to exactly what function stem cells serve. It’s actually quite easy to explain, however: stem cells are those cells which multiply and differentiate into many of the other special types of cells your body requires. What this means is that when cells in places like the vascular system are damaged, stem cells allow for new ones to come in and repair the tissue among other jobs.

While embryonic stem cells are those which become all different parts of the body, adults still have them in many key areas: blood, bone marrow, fat, muscle, and skin, just to name a few. In previous articles, we’ve gone over research that suggests high flavanol cacao is beneficial to multiple of these areas, so it’s truly no wonder that a potential link between high flavanol cacao and stem cells is beginning to be understood.

Key Takeaways:

• Stem cells are cells that become many different types of cells throughout the body

• Stem cells are essential for tissue growth and repair

• Stem cells exist in multiple systems where high flavanol cacao has an effect

Before discussing what the current research suggests about the link between high flavanol cacao and stem cells, it’s important to understand what exactly is being claimed. An oversimplified explanation might lead you to believe that flavanols present in high flavanol cacao somehow help create stem cells, but this is not the case. What actually may be happening is that the stem cells the body already naturally produces are aided by cacao flavanols in the circulation of stem cells, specifically those that release into the blood stream and work on vascular repair.

With this in mind, the link between high flavanol cacao and stem cells is quite easy to understand, as it relates to some of the other benefits of cacao flavanols we’ve already discussed at length. Far from being some hard-to-grasp miracle substance when it comes to high flavanol cacao and stem cells, support and protection of vascular cells is just another potential way it may support blood vessel repair and formation as well as overall cardiovascular health.

In terms of the current research, one 2018 study from the American Society of Hematology is among the growing number that appear to support this idea linking high flavanol cacao and stem cells. They state that flavanol-rich foods such as high flavanol cacao can not only support the activity of those stem cells which enter into the blood stream and aid in growth and repair, but also help them stay at rest when necessary. While it’s important to remember that more testing is likely needed to confirm anything major in this area, this would only further support high flavanol cacao’s ability to mitigate cell damage and reduce chronic disease risk if true.

Key Takeaways:

• Stem cells are not created by high flavanol cacao, only supported and protected

• Stem cells in the blood are where most research suggests flavanols have an effect

• Stem cells may also relate to high flavanol cacao’s reduction of disease risk

Now that we’ve spent time discussing the importance of stem cells and the potential links between high flavanol cacao and stem cell support, a question still remains: which high flavanol cacao is best for stem cell support, and how can you tell? You are looking for brands that test and advertise for a variety of different Polyphenols and antioxidants such as: Flavonoids, Flavanols, Anthocyanins, Epicatechins, Catechins, and Superoxidase Dismutase. We’ve gone over many times now how commercial processes such as alkalization strip away vital nutrients of course, but even high flavanol brands whose cacao is lightly roasted are going to be somewhat deficient. Currently, Vital Purple is the only brand on the market whose cacao is kept entirely in its raw state, ensuring as few nutrients are lost by the time it reaches your door.

Apart from that, pay attention to product labeling and make sure you know the exact flavanol content you’re getting. Some brands might be problematic when it comes to serving sizes or seeming to claim a higher flavanol content than they actually have, so read the fine print when necessary. Making sure you’re toward the upper end of the 500-1,000 mg daily amount where many studies into high flavanol cacao have seen their best results is important as well.

Key Takeaways:

• Raw, naturally-processed high flavanol cacao is always best

• Always read the fine print to confirm high flavanol claims

• Make sure you’re near the top of the optimal range for daily flavanol consumption

If you're looking for cacao that increases stem cells specifically, you need to look for brands that measure and publish their epicatechin and catechin content. If they don't publish this data, it's always fair to request this data, along with their heavy metal content and country of origin. Rarely will a brand even think to test for Superoxidase dismutase and if they did they may understand its ability to reduce oxidative stress better. Flavanols, Flavonoids, Epicatechins and Catechins are all critical factors in deciding what High Flavanol Cocoa Powder to choose if increasing stem cells in your body, but something that is more rare is transparency around Country of Origin and what process they're using to retain the flavanols of the cacao. That seems to be a well kept secret in the industry, while we have continued to publish data around this. To recap, for flavanols to be retained properly it is a combination of growing conditions, species, processing, and some companies extract the flavanols and put them back in. 

Is it over advertised and overhyped that high flavanol cocoa powder increases stem cells? By some brands; yes, because there is not substantial, well documented evidence that there is a strong causation between the product and the outcome. Please, watch out for this claim, because it is not the main benefit of Flavanol Rich Cacao. The main benefits are found in reducing cholesterol, improve artery elasticity, and improving blood flow, and increasing oxygenation to specific areas of the brain. What is the best cacao for stem cells? Maybe you are asking the wrong question, as the other benefits are incredibly beneficial for the body as well. The leading cause of death in the USA is heart disease, and cocoa flavanols have been studied to have exceptional benefits for the heart. 

Writer / Researcher: Trey Norbey

There is a lack of strong evidence right now supporting a strong correlation between the intake of high flavanol cacao and a remarkable increase in stem cell growth. Claims that high flavanol cocoa powder can immediately and DOUBLE stem cell production are problematic since not all pure cacao consumers can expect to see these results. The study where cocoa flavanols were being consumed simultaneously while participants were seeing an increase in stem cells does remark that high flavanol cacao improves the amount of stem cells in the body through protection and decreasing inflammation allowing for the production. However, there is no direct mechanism for cocoa flavanols creating stem cells. 

If you are taking high flavanol cacao solely for an increase in stem cells, you have been subject to a full frontal marketing assault. It can assist in the creation of new stem cell production by reducing inflammation, but there would have to be other factors to influence the success of this result. High Flavanol Cacao and stem cells having a direct correlation alone with no other influencing factors is a tough sell. 

To make such claims confidently, more double blind studies need to be completed, and when we are talking about something stem cell production, this would be costly, and difficult to find a sizeable amount of participants with similar inflammation markers at the beginning of the study.

So, how much cacao for stem cells? The real question is how much cacao for the cardiovascular benefits. The answer is between 500mg to 1000mg cocoa flavonols per day for 3 months.

The Short Answer is yes. But not in a substantial way backed by multiple peer reviewed studies that can be confidently quoted. There is correlation, without causation, which should be enough to question the legitimacy of the claims that other brands continue to make about the effect.

Why is their correlation? Correlation can be suggested through the powerful antioxidants, like Superoxidase Dismutase in the cacao improving the bodies ability to protect and assist the growth of existing stem cells in the body. The antioxidants prove reduce oxidative stress, so that new stem cells can be created by the body. I'm sure there are other biomarkers and external factors influencing whether this will make an impact, which is why Vital Purple doesn't make these claims.

Sources:

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/24/13481

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15491098/

https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/132/Supplement%201/3830/265084/Polyphenols-Modulate-Quiescence-Mobilization-of