Did you know that an adult heart pumps approximately 2,000 gallons of blood through your body every day? Or that it takes only 20 seconds for blood to circulate through your entire body? For a muscle that’s the size of your fist, your heart has a pretty serious job! It never stops working, so it’s important to give your heart the nutrients it needs to thrive.
So how can you protect your heart? With chocolate! You might already know about the many health benefits of chocolate, but today I want to focus on a special kind of chocolate that can support your heart in ways you might not realize. My new Double Chocolate Paleo Protein not only contains natural cocoa powder, it’s also a great source of the amino acids leucine and arginine which support vein and heart health. First, let’s talk about how cocoa powder can support heart health. Then I’ll discuss amino acids in my protein powder and their role in optimal heart health. Brought together in one convenient powder, my Double Chocolate Paleo Protein combines the benefits of cocoa with the power of protein.
How Can Chocolate Support Heart Health?
There have been many recent studies that suggest chocolate can support hearth health, but scientists aren’t completely sure why. Evidence is pointing to flavonoids, antioxidants produced by a wide array of plants to protect them during their development. Flavonoids are found in many fruits and nuts and are particularly abundant in cocoa beans. The flavonoids in cocoa beans:
• Promote healthy blood pressure
• Optimize blood flow to the brain and heart
• Assist with fighting cell damage
• Support blood fluidity and lack of clotting
What Are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are organic compounds that your body uses to make protein, which is a critical component in every cell in your body. Protein, in turn, is used to build and repair bone, muscles, and cartilage, and to make enzymes, hormones, and blood. This is why it’s is so important to get adequate amounts of clean proteins. In addition to all this, there are two specific amino acids in my Double Chocolate Paleo Protein that can help support a healthy heart.
What Does Leucine Do?
Leucine is one of three branched-chain amino acids. It has been associated with improved indicators of atherosclerosis 1 In atherosclerosis, plaque builds up inside your arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart and other parts of your body. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and narrows your arteries. Atherosclerosis is bad for your heart in two ways: because it narrows the artery, it can make your heart work harder. The plaque inside your arteries can also break off and travel to your heart, causing damage to that all-important muscle, or even stopping its function completely in a massive heart attack.
What is the Role of Arginine?
The amino acid arginine is involved in several important functions in the body including wound healing, kidney function, and the maintenance of the immune system and hormones. Its biggest contribution may, however, be to the health of your heart. Once arginine is inside your body, it changes into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that plays an important role in the dilation (or widening) and relaxation of the arteries. Relaxed, open arteries are essentially the opposite of atherosclerosis and are just what your heart needs to be able to circulate blood efficiently.
Why Rely on Double Chocolate Paleo Protein?
The Myers Way® Double Chocolate Paleo Protein is one of the only clean, AIP protein powders available. It is gluten-, dairy-, and sugar-free, and sourced from non-GMO, hormone- and antibiotic-free, grass-fed beef. And I’ve just reformulated it so that it’s more chocolate-y than ever! You also won’t find other ingredients on your ‘avoid’ list including grains, corn, or legumes in my Paleo Protein. It’s truly perfect for everyone, especially those following an AIP/autoimmune protocol or simply avoiding inflammatory foods! Rich in tissue-building peptides and amino acids that support healthy blood vessels, Paleo Protein helps optimize healthy muscle growth and tissue repair.
Like all delicious The Myers Way® Paleo Proteins, my Double Chocolate is made from hydrolyzed beef that comes from happy, pasture-raised cows that graze on outdoors in fresh, green fields, not crammed into an industrial barn. These animals are raised with love and care and never given unnecessary drugs such as antibiotics, arsenic-based growth promoters, or hormones. They are grass-fed, and never eat GMOs such as genetically modified corn and soy meal. I don’t eat those things and I won’t put them in my Paleo Proteins!
You can enjoy the delicious, chocolate-y flavor knowing you’re supporting muscle growth (including that all-important muscle, your heart!) with the amino acids in protein as well as blood vessel health with the flavonoids in cocoa. Start your day with a yummy smoothie and raise your glass of Double Chocolate Paleo Protein to your optimal heart health!
