Welcome to The Vitality Code, a series created in partnership with CocoaVia™, where we’re exploring what the latest research reveals about supporting your most essential systems and living a longer, stronger, and more vibrant life. And for Heart Health Month, we’re starting with cardiovascular longevity.
A New Era Of Cardiovascular Care: What Today’s Research Shows Us Welcome to The Vitality Code, a series created in partnership with CocoaVia™, where we’re exploring what the latest research reveals about supporting your most essential systems and living a longer, stronger, and more vibrant life.
And for Heart Health Month, we’re starting with cardiovascular longevity. As Americans live longer, it’s never been more important to focus our attention on quality of life. It’s not just enough to champion life extension, but we must also protect the energy, cognition, mobility, and resilience that allow us to fully inhabit our lives as we age.Few systems influence that trajectory more profoundly than the cardiovascular system. The heart and blood vessels deliver oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and immune signals to every corner of the body. When they function well, the benefits ripple outward to the brain, metabolism, skin, and beyond. Supporting cardiovascular vitality means working with the realities of daily life. Here, evidence-backed habits that support blood flow, vessel function, and long-term resilience—all of which can fit into the full life you’re already living. Eat a robust, balanced diet Food is nourishment. Food is art. Food is comfort. Food is communal. And ultimately, food is functional. What we put into our bodies has measurable physiological effects that influence how we feel today and how we age over time. This is especially true for heart health, as dietary patterns have a well-established influence on cholesterol levels, blood pressure, inflammatory response, and metabolic function. Research consistently suggests that eating a plant-forward, nutrient-dense diet is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes.Our audience understands this intuitively: In our recent Instagram survey, 90% of responders said they “always” or “sometimes” consider heart health when eating. How to eat for heart health: It’s important to eat variety of nutrient dense foods, focusing on these three key groups: However, it’s important to understand that while diet is the foundation, supplementation can provide meaningful support—especially for specific nutrients that are hard to get through diet alone.For example, clinically meaningful amounts of cocoa flavanols would be challenging without supplementation. The amount found in products varies considerably and are often not labeled. In addition, processing methods often reduce flavanol content in conventional chocolate products. Supplementation, like through CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols, offers a standardized way to access levels aligned with clinical trials. Formulated with 500 mg of cocoa flavanols, the supplement offers a level proven to promote a strong heart and cardiovascular system.* This includes the landmark COSMOS study that found that cocoa flavanols taken daily can promote heart health for the long term.* CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols High-quality cocoa flavanols in a clinically-backed level. It’s made with the No. 1 most clinically proven cocoa flavanol extract. Improve VO₂ max, the longevity metric that can make all the difference In the pursuit of longevity, many people keep track of, and try to improve upon, a variety of metrics. They monitor sleep quality, step counts, and heart rate variability in the hopes it will help them thrive with age. More and more, people are adding VO2 max to that list. In fact, in a recent survey we did of our Instagram community 32% of responders said they monitor this metric “regularly” and another 39% said they “wanted to” start. VO2 max is shorthand for maximal oxygen. It's measured in milliliters of oxygen you use per kilogram of body weight per minute . It describes the maximum volume of oxygen that your body can utilize during intense physical activity. It’s considered the 'gold standard test' for cardiovascular fitness.If you want to understand the state of your heart health, VO2 max is one of the most informative markers available. And improving your VO2 max has direct benefits to cardiovascular longevity: Studies, including a 2019 study in IJC Heart & Vasculature, have found a connection between high VO2 max and a reduction in cardiovascular events. How to improve VO2 max VO₂ max is highly trainable, especially with habits like these: While most people think of fitness as the only way to improve this metric, nutrition plays a very important complementary role. Cocoa flavanols, such as those found in CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols, promote nitric oxide production, encouraging blood vessels to relax so oxygen-rich blood can circulate more efficiently.* A 2023 randomized, double-blind clinical trial found that cocoa flavanols increased VO2max by 12% in healthy adults, leading to improved exercise capacity.* Prioritize sleep as a nightly cardiovascular reset Sleep is your body’s primary recovery phase, a time in which the body and mind enter an active repair window during which blood pressure drops, inflammation recalibrates, and metabolic processes reset. Unfortunately, sleep is something many Americans struggle with, including several in our community. In our recent Instagram poll, a quarter of the respondents said they were not satisfied with their sleep quality. Another 35% said it “could be better.” This is something to pay attention to, as consistently short or fragmented sleep has been associated with elevated cardiovascular risk, partly due to its effects on glucose regulation and stress hormones. Support deeper sleep with these strategies: Night after night, restorative sleep helps create the physiological conditions your heart relies on to function well. Here’s how to create an environment for rest: Repeatable behaviors shape sleep quality far more effectively than one single hack. Improve circulation for full body benefits How often are you actively thinking about your circulation? Well, we asked our audience and 57% said they considered it very important! However, 34% said they “hadn’t thought about it much” and 9% said they hadn’t, but “I’ll start.” Healthy circulation ensures that oxygen and nutrients reach tissues efficiently. This has full body benefits, from improved complexion to cerebral health. In fact, strong blood flow has been linked to better cognitive performance, reinforcing the deep connection between heart health and brain longevity. How to support circulation daily: Circulation responds to lifestyle changes, both big and small. In fact, cocoa flavanols, found in CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols, have been shown to support endothelial function, helping blood vessels remain responsive, flexible, and healthy.* This improved vascular responsiveness may benefit both cardiovascular and cognitive health by enhancing blood flow throughout the body.* In a COSMOS ancillary large-scale trial, led by researchers at Columbia University, it was shown that flavanols can support brain and memory performance during normal cognitive aging.* CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols High-quality cocoa flavanols in a clinically-backed level. It’s made with the No. 1 most clinically proven cocoa flavanol extract. Make meaningful connection The association between the heart and love isn’t just a symbolic one. Our connections have real implications with cardiovascular function. Relationships support heart health in both emotional and physiological ways. Strong social bonds are associated with lower stress markers, healthy blood pressure patterns, and even improved longevity.When we asked our audience about spending time with loved ones, and if they wished they had more time to spend making connections, 51% said “yes” and 33% said “sometimes.” If heart health is shaped by daily behaviors, relationships deserve a place on that list. Relationships are a protective salve for both emotional well-being and cardiovascular resilience. How to show up more fully in your relationships: Connection rarely happens accidentally. It benefits from the same intentionality we bring to nutrition and exercise. Stick to these and not only will you feel better, your heart will too. Why CocoaVia is the go-to cocoa flavanol CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols are made with proprietary Cocoapro™ cocoa extract, a highly concentrated source designed to preserve the flavanols naturally present in cocoa beans. Backed by more than 30 years of research and over 60 human clinical studies, the extract delivers levels that have been clinically shown to support cardiovascular and brain health.*One of the most influential investigations in this space is the COSMOS study, which we’ve referenced above a few times. Let’s take a closer look at why it’s so important: The mechanism is rooted in vascular function. Quality is another differentiator worth noting. CocoaVia™ products meet rigorous manufacturing standards and carry respected third-party verifications, including Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, NSF Certified for Content, and ConsumerLab approval. These credentials help signal both purity and label accuracy in a category that can otherwise feel difficult to navigate. CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols Backed by 30+ years of research and over 60 human clinical studies with leading research institutions. The takeaway Cardiovascular longevity is not driven by a single breakthrough, but by daily breaks you give yourself: how you move, eat, sleep, connect, and support your biology at the cellular level, including through supplements like CocoaVia™ 500 mg Cocoa Flavanols.As research evolves, one message continues to sharpen. Protecting heart health early and consistently may be among the most powerful investments you can make in your future vitality. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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