Flavanols

What are flavanols?

Flavanols are a subclass of flavonoids, which are nonessential nutrients found in plant foods, mainly in tea and chocolate. Flavanols include catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin gallate, theaflavins and proanthocyanidins ^[1].

Foods High in Flavanols

• Cocoa, dark chocolate
• Teas: black, green and oolong tea
• Apples, berries, red grapes, red wine
• Reference: ^[1]

Flavanols Supplements

Various tea extracts high in flavanols are available without prescription (over-the-counter).

Flavanols Health Benefits

According to one Cochrane review of studies, intake of flavanol-rich cocoa and chocolate may have a small effect on the reduction of blood pressure ^[2].

Some other reviews suggest that consumption of flavanols from dark chocolate and cocoa products is associated with lower total and LDL and higher HDL cholesterol levels ^[3].

There is INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE about the effectiveness of flavanols from chocolate in the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular disease ^[4,6,7] or in improving cognitive function ^[5] or as antioxidants ^[3].