In the past couple decades, more and more research has been done to confirm the benefits of cocoa flavonoids. Effects like boosted heart health and cognitive function as well as reduced risk of several categories of disease have been consistently identified, leading to an explosion in popularity of raw and organic cacao products. However, it needs to be noted; whether you’re starting to look into raw and organic cacao for its health benefits or to get your daily energy boost while avoiding the negative effects of caffeine, however, you’re bound to come across a few terms you may not be familiar with.
First, you should note that not all cacao has a dense amount of epicatechins. A lot of cacao has been completely stripped of it's nutrients through monocrop farming and high temperature processing. Preserving cocoa flavonoids is an intense project, and you need to do your research about which high flavanol cocoa brands are processing and testing with the focus of preserving these cacao flavanols. Preserving cocoa flavanols like epicatechin and catechins takes the correct crop, and the correct process to preserve these flavonoids, with low temperatures after harvest.
In a previous blog, we already discussed the difference between flavanols and flavonoids, but another big one you’re likely to come across is epicatechin. So what is epicatechin, and why is it so beneficial as a part of your daily routine? Read on for a deeper dive:
Table of contents
What is Epicatechin?
Just like how flavanols in cacao are naturally-occurring plant compounds from the larger group of flavonoids, epicatechin is a specific type of flavanol. Along with catechin, it is the main type of flavanol contained in cacao, responsible for the majority of its powerful health effects[1]. Epicatechin can be found in other foods such as apples, tea leaves, and of course dark chocolate, but raw cacao is by far the best dietary source of this potent compound.
What Are the Benefits of Epicatechin?
When talking about the benefits of flavanols and epicatechin in specific, most of its positive health effects can be attributed to its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, and this reduction can protect vulnerable DNA, and bodily proteins. Inflammation, similarly, is linked to many chronic diseases and other health issues.
So what health issues can epicatechin specifically help with? There are several different categories that research has supported the ability of cocoa flavonoids (and epicatechin in specific) to be beneficial at combating, among those being cardiovascular, cognitive, and blood-pressure related issues. Cocoa flavonoids like epicatechin can also help mitigate the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and even cancer through their ability to neutralize the free radicals that harm cells and DNA.
In the case of brain health specifically, research is very promising in its suggestion that dietary epicatechin can help reduce specifically age-based cognitive decline[2]. Areas like memory, processing speed, and even executive function have been seen to improve in older adults through trials that involve taking epicatechin as a supplement.
In short, the benefits of epicatechin are strong and wide-ranging, it being a potentially great supplement both for those with chronic health concerns and those simply looking to improve their overall diet. In previous blog entries, we have gone much more in-depth into the specific areas where cocoa flavonoids like epicatechin can boost your health–look here for further reading:
What are the Epicatechin Benefits?:
Epicatechins are a plant compound and the main type of cocoa flavonoid found in specific types of cacao.
Epicatechins are noted as being a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, effective protecting cells from oxidative stress
Epicatechins have been studied to improve critical cognitive functions
Epicatechins have been studied to combat chronic illness because of it's ability to protect cells from free radicals that usually harm DNA
Why Choose Vital Purple?
How does Vital Purple serve as a Epicatechin Supplement? Because it has a much higher concentration of Epicatechin molecules than comparable foods you may eat for Epicatechins. With other brands striving to keep their customers up to date on the benefits of cocoa flavonoids, why choose Vital Purple? Simply put, Vital Purple is the world’s first and only pure, raw, ceremonial cacao made with a focus on preserving the plant’s natural purple hue. If you want a cacao powder that keeps all the best nutrients of the plant it comes from, one where you know exactly what you’re eating and mixing into your drinks, Vital Purple is the cacao for you.
Sources:
Is Epicatechin Safe in Higher Doses?
When taken as a supplement, it is generally recommended at lower amounts of around 200mg per day, but when consumed as part of a whole food, epicatechin is considered safe and beneficial at higher levels of up to 1,000mg of cocoa flavanols per day.
Does Epicatechin Have Side Effects?
Most people taking epicatechin in moderation, whether as part of a whole food or as a supplement, experience little to no side effects. However, mild headaches, dizziness, or gastrointestinal distress have been reported.
Phillip McCauley
Phillip McCauley is the owner of Natural Zing and Vital Purple at TheOrganicCacao.com.
Writer / Researcher: Trey Norbey
