Recovery & cardiovascular health: how cacao makes your training smarter

Recovery & cardiovascular health: how cacao makes your training smarter

Post-workout recovery, healthy blood flow and natural blood pressure balance: this science-backed article shows how high-quality, flavanol-rich cacao can support athletic recovery. Learn why cacao is not only delicious, but also a functional superfood for endurance, heart health and performance.

1. Cacao for better blood flow during exercise

Cacao flavanols support endothelial function, helping blood vessels widen. That means more oxygen for your muscles, better endurance performance and less fatigue. For anyone who wants to improve post-workout recovery while also supporting vascular health, cacao is a very interesting alternative to classic supplements.

Many people ask: does cacao contain caffeine? Yes, but much less than coffee. Its effect is mainly driven by the related compound theobromine, which acts more slowly, more gently and with a vasodilating effect. More on this in our article Cacao & biohacking.

Grassi et al. (2016) showed that flavanol-rich cacao can positively influence pulse wave velocity, even after sleep deprivation. This makes it relevant for athletes dealing with stress, jet lag or high everyday strain.

Our article on Chuncho cacao & lab data also shows how rich cacao is in functional plant compounds.

You can find more information on composition and safety in our article on heavy metals in cacao.

2. Naturally supporting blood pressure with theobromine

Unlike caffeine, theobromine has a mildly stimulating and vasodilating effect without nervousness or a racing pulse. Studies indicate that cacao can naturally support healthy blood pressure and thereby ease strain on the heart, ideal during physical load or recovery. Berends et al. (2015) and Babar et al. (2018) clearly confirm this effect.

If you are interested in the exact composition, we have published real lab data for Chuncho cacao.

We explain how cacao works as a natural alternative to coffee in our article Cacao & biohacking.

3. Faster recovery through antioxidant effects

After training, free radicals and inflammatory processes increase. The flavanols in cacao can help counteract this. They reduce oxidative damage, improve microvascular function and may noticeably support muscular recovery and regeneration. You can learn more about the scientifically tested purity and safety of the raw materials in our article on heavy metals in cacao.

The antioxidant effect is also relevant in the context of longevity & biohacking.

Learn more & keep reading

• Cacao & biohacking: what we have in common with Bryan Johnson's lifestyle
• Heavy metals in cacao: what you should know
• Lab results for our Chuncho cacao

Sources

• Grassi, D. et al. (2016). Flavanol-rich chocolate acutely improves arterial function and working memory performance counteracting the effects of sleep deprivation. Journal of Hypertension, 34, 1298-1308.
• Berends, L. M. et al. (2015). Flavan-3-ols, theobromine, and the effects on cardiometabolic health: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 102(6), 1357-1368.
• Babar, A. et al. (2018). Acute effects of cocoa on arterial stiffness and blood pressure in healthy adults. Nutrients, 10(10), 1394.

I drank while writing: Tabasqueño from Mexico 🇲🇽