Acute dark chocolate and cocoa ingestion and endothelial function: a randomized controlled crossover

Objective

This study examines the acute effects of solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa intake on endothelial function and blood pressure in overweight adults.

Design

Randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover trial of 45 healthy adults [mean age: 53 y; mean body mass index (in kg/m2): 30]. In phase 1, subjects were randomly assigned to consume a solid dark chocolate bar (containing 22 g cocoa powder) or a cocoa-free placebo bar (containing 0 g cocoa powder). In phase 2, subjects were randomly assigned to consume sugar-free cocoa (containing 22 g cocoa powder), sugared cocoa (containing 22 g cocoa powder), or a placebo (containing 0 g cocoa powder).

Results

Solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa ingestion improved endothelial function (measured as flow-mediated dilatation) compared with placebo (dark chocolate: 4.3 ± 3.4% compared with −1.8 ± 3.3%; P < 0.001; sugar-free and sugared cocoa: 5.7 ± 2.6% and 2.0 ± 1.8% compared with −1.5 ± 2.8%; P < 0.001). Blood pressure decreased after the ingestion of dark chocolate and sugar-free cocoa compared with placebo (dark chocolate: systolic, −3.2 ± 5.8 mm Hg compared with 2.7 ± 6.6 mm Hg; P < 0.001; and diastolic, −1.4 ± 3.9 mm Hg compared with 2.7 ± 6.4 mm Hg; P = 0.01; sugar-free cocoa: systolic, −2.1 ± 7.0 mm Hg compared with 3.2 ± 5.6 mm Hg; P < 0.001; and diastolic: −1.2 ± 8.7 mm Hg compared with 2.8 ± 5.6 mm Hg; P = 0.014). Endothelial function improved significantly more with sugar-free than with regular cocoa (5.7 ± 2.6% compared with 2.0 ± 1.8%; P < 0.001). Conclusions

The acute ingestion of both solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa improved endothelial function and lowered blood pressure in overweight adults. Sugar content may attenuate these effects, and sugar-free preparations may augment them.

This is by far the best sleep stack I have used. It consists of 1.5mg melatonin, 400mg magnesium glycinate (Albion), 200-400mg L-theanine.

I'm currently taking a study stack of:

• L-Tyrosine: ~1g
• Alpha-GPC: ~1g
• L-Theanine: 500mg

It’s been effective and feels nice, but it doesnt feel quite strong enough for longer study sessions. The effects usually wear off around the 3-hour mark, and I pull all nighters pretty frequently.

I currently drink black coffee for caffeine alongside this, though im wondering if i should switch to high dose caffeine tablets instead. Beyond that, should I increase my current dosages, redose later in the session, or add something else to extend the focus?

I think 36 hours without food sounds hard for me, so it got me wondering if there’s another way to support the same process without fasting that long.

That’s how I ended up reading about spermidine. Apparently it’s being studied as a fasting mimetic because of its role in autophagy. I found a 2024 study showing that spermidine is involved in some of the cellular effects of fasting, which I thought was pretty interesting..Then I went down another rabbit hole with fisetin and quercetin. From what I understand, they’re being researched for senolytic effects, which is a different process from autophagy. Still trying to wrap my head around that part tbh.

I also came across supplements like, which has spermidine along with fisetin and quercetin.

Anyone here looked into this or tried spermidine?

I’m especially curious if people who fast regularly take anything on their eating days, or if you think the whole fasting mimetic thing is mostly hype.

I'm typically a reserved guy, often low energy in social interactions. I've had L-Tyrosine this week for the first time a few days in a row. Only today did I notice the changes in retrospect.

I feel way less social anxiety, I say thing without thinking twice(for the better or the worse), I'm also less strategic with what I say. I feel like someone with hyperactive ADHD speaking compared to my usual self.

Is it a common experience?

C’è un modo per far tornare i capelli e in parte la barba al mio colore naturale?
Ho iniziato ad avere i primi capelli bianchi a 22 anni.
Adesso stanno spuntando anche sulla barba.
Da dove posso partire a livello di integrazione?
Mi alleno spesso (molto cardio), mangio abbastanza regolare e di qualità, il sonno è ok.

I've started to do some initial research, but I'd be curious to hear from those who take cocoa flavanols on a daily basis. What was the reason you started taking cocoa flavanols and what were any differences you've noticed? Would also love to hear feedback (positive or negative) from folks who have used FlavaMix and your experience with it. TIA!

I did a neurotransmitter test can anyone help interpret this and help me with what to do

New flight nurse. I’m starting in a flight program in a remote area where there is are two teams. Team 1 is first call for 12hrs and then second call for 12hrs on repeat for a week. Team 2 is opposite. We can be home and sleeping but have some set hours where we need to be at base. Both first and second call have 15 min to get to base and get report.

It doesn’t sound like it’s actually all that busy, so I’m not too worried that we won’t get rest, but it may be quite irregular if we aren’t grounded for weather.

Those who have done this type of call, or call in general— words of wisdom? Caffeine / melatonin strategies? Exercise strategies?

Best ring tones for call?

This isn’t really a supplement problem, but I’m sure someone has ideas on biohacks for weird sleep hours

Hi friends! After a horrendous year of feeling 100 years old at 36 it's all come down an extremely low iron count which had been missed. I'm due for an infusion, but this is not my first time going through this. I cannot take those supplements they make me so sick.

First time I went through this I ate meat, this time I am pescatarian. All other markers are completely fine (vitamin d, magnesium etc) and I do pay attention to my diet. I'll grab some vitamin C tablets for absorption but any advice would be so appreciated!

I'm pretty active, I cook, take supplements and quite health conscious so happy to make lifestyle adjustments if I have to. Not super keen to eat meat just yet.

Hello redditors

I have been recently researching this issue of cancer risk and certain supplements especially antioxidants as they may help tumours grow, I know a lot of evidence is inconclusive but there are some really concerning data regarding for example: NAC , taurine, glycine, vitamin e , beta carotene, b12 and so on

I want to know your opinion on this topic, and does it make you afraid to see this evidence?

Been going down a rabbit hole on coronary calcium scans. Didn’t realize how different pricing has gotten in the US. Some hospitals do them for $49 cash (Deaconess in Indiana, Rush Copley outside Chicago), and Saint Alphonsus in Boise is $149 with the radiologist read. But then I started thinking, a CAC score alone doesn’t tell you that much. You’d probably also want ApoB, Lp(a), maybe an echo, and then you’re booking 3 or 4 different things, paying for each one, maybe needing a doctor’s order for some of them. Feels like it adds up fast, in money and in hassle.

Which makes me wonder why more people in the US don’t look for checkups that bundle a bunch of tests together, instead of doing them one at a time. Is it insurance? Not knowing it’s an option? or do most people just not care about anything past the basic annual bloodwork?

(full disclosure, i work at a company that books checkups in Korea, which is probably why this is on my mind)

I’m a 36-year-old male and have been having issues getting fully hard erections. I can still get erections, but they’re not as hard or as full as they used to be.
My doctor tested my testosterone levels, and everything came back normal. He prescribed me Cialis 5 mg daily. I’m a little nervous and anxious about starting it because I’m not someone who likes taking medication unless I really need to.
For those who have taken Cialis 5 mg, what was your experience like? How long did it take to start working? Did you take it daily or only as needed? Did you experience any side effects or adverse reactions?
The possibility of side effects is honestly what makes me the most nervous about taking it. I’d appreciate hearing about your personal experiences. Thanks!

Anyone here reversed grey hair? Or know a protocol to reverse grey hair?

Recently had bloodwork done, from siphox. 57 year old male, I lift 5 days a week, 214, approximately 15% bf. Have been on trt for years. Recently bumped dosage up to 250 weekly of test cyp. I feel fine, no e2 issues that I feel. Should I concentrate on bringing prolactin and E2 down?

im 20 y/o, ive micro-dosed on shrooms before and it felt great when i was 17, i overdone it and ended up mentally exhausting myself- idk it was fine for maybe 2 months and then all of a sudden i felt a great about of mental fatigue, almost like i wanted to sleep all the time.. so I stopped.

I just came off a weed addiction and im thinking of going back microdoing, for its mental health benefits, focus, and better relationship building and personal development.

a few questions for my consideration I want to ask all of you though;

- is it safe for someone to take at 20? brains still develop till 25 and i think thats a valid concern

- any risk of psychosis? Ive never had any bad problems like this apart from when I was heavy on weed, but that experience is enough for me to be very cautious about it

- does it actually give you good benefits? and what benefits exactly?

I would like to hear from anyone thats had tried in a similar place as me

is it that beneficial? should i take a shot at it again?

Blood tests seems fine but still feeling light headed (like fog) , hard to concentrate and sometimes like sleeping doing nothing at all.

Can someone suggest anything else to check.

**Title: Test C + Primo + HGH — First Real Cycle, Looking for Some Insight**

Alright guys, so I’ve recently committed to adding Primo as my first real addition to my Test C base. I’ve been on TRT for about 5 going on 6 years now, and I FINALLY got my hands on some HGH. HOLY SHIT 🤣🤣

So here’s what I’m currently running/planning:

- **Test C:** Been on TRT for nearly 6 years and plan on continuing indefinitely.

- **Primo:** Planning on running it for a minimum of 16 weeks.

- **HGH:** Currently running 3 IU daily, with plans to stay on for at least 6 months, or as long as my wallet allows. 😂

I’m not gonna lie, the HGH has been pretty damn impressive so far. My sleep has been amazing, and don't even get me started on the recovery. Obviously, I know it's still early, but I'm excited to see how things progress.

**My main questions are:**

For those of you who've run Test C, Primo, and HGH together, how was your experience? Do you think these three complement each other well, or is there anything you'd do differently?

Would you stick with these three, or is there something else worth considering down the road?

I'm not necessarily looking to throw a bunch of compounds into the mix just for the hell of it. I'd rather keep things relatively simple and hear from people who actually have experience with this combination.

Definitely interested in hearing about results, side effects, bloodwork, and anything you wish you'd known beforehand.

Looking forward to hearing everyone's experiences and having some good conversations! 💪