July 26, 2016 Chocolate For Your Heart

Volume 2 | Issue 2

Hershey establishes a Center for Health and Nutrition and releases study results linking cocoa to improved cardiovascular function.

To meet the growing consumer appetite for healthier products The Hershey Company has made a significant expansion of its health and nutrition initiative, at the same time lauding results of on-going studies at Yale University, linking the consumption of hot cocoa to improved cardiovascular function.

The Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition will direct cutting-edge scientific research to develop products and technologies providing consumers with health benefits in the areas of heart health, weight management, and mental and physical energy. The Center will build upon the science, clinical studies and research work already underway at The Hershey Company.

The establishment of the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition was a recommendation of Hershey’s Health & Wellness Advisory Board, a panel of world-class scientists and analysts established in 2005. The Advisory Board is comprised of experts who provide Hershey with key insights in the areas of weight management, cognitive and brain function, nutrigenomics, plant nutrients and metabolism, children’s nutrition and eating behavior, personal wellness, government food regulations, and consumer health and wellness behaviors and attitudes.

Our goal is to redefine the future of snacking by offering consumers products that provide proven health benefits and the superior taste they expect from Hershey. Our research is validating the significant health benefits of cocoa and snack nuts and, combined with our proven ability to develop and commercialize innovative new products, provides an immense capability to meet the growing consumer demand for healthier products.

Source of innovation

The Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition is designed to be a significant source of new-product innovation as it draws upon clinical studies and scientific analysis of the health benefits of cocoa, nuts and other natural ingredients. The Center will utilize the company’s internal scientific capabilities as well as partnerships formed with internationally known researchers and institutions.

“The Center is a major step forward in the evolution of Hershey’s work in the areas of healthier snacking,” said Dr. Steven Zeisel, Associate Dean and Professor of Nutrition, at the School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a member of Hershey’s Health & Wellness Advisory Board. “The Center will establish Hershey as a leader in drawing upon scientific research to deliver products consumers can enjoy as truly healthier snack choices.”

The Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition will focus its research and development efforts in three principal areas:

Heart Health. Hershey continues to conduct research into links between flavanols in cocoa and chocolate and improvements in arterial function, as well as into the potential health benefits of nuts. The company is partnering with Yale University, researching the effects of dark chocolate and cocoa on arterial function and blood pressure. The company also is evaluating formulas and technologies that deliver higher levels of antioxidants while reducing fats and sugars.

Weight Management. Weight management continues to be a focal point of Hershey’s Health & Wellness Advisory Board. Earlier this year, Hershey made an endowment to Penn State’s Center for Childhood Obesity Research. It also introduced Hershey’s Sticks, a portion-controlled chocolate with 60 calories per serving. Later this year, Hershey will launch a line of 100-calorie chocolate products. In addition, Hershey has conducted numerous studies on glycemic responses and satiety and continues to advance technological development in both sugar and fat reduction in chocolate.

Mental and Physical Energy. Building on evidence linking the consumption of cocoa and chocolate to improved mental acuity, The Hershey Company has entered into a partnership with the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech to examine the ability of cocoa and chocolate consumption to improve cognitive function in older adults. The company also is conducting research combining such ingredients as soy and whey with nuts and chocolate to better understand the impact on metabolism and physical energy.

“We’ve already made great strides in a number of health benefit areas through research studies, partnerships and new product development,” said Dan Azzara, Vice President, Innovation and Quality. “Now, thanks to the establishment of the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition, we’ll be able to rapidly expand our work, quickly translating the latest scientific research into great-tasting snack offerings.”

Drinking Hot Cocoa Linked to Improved Cardiovascular Health

In line with this achievement are the preliminary results of a Yale University study confirming the cardiovascular health benefits of hot cocoa consumption. Scientific studies have shown that specific naturally occurring compounds from cocoa beans called flavanols may deliver health benefits. Flavanols can act as antioxidants and also are found in tea, fruits and vegetables. Recent data from scientists at Hershey as well as the United States Department of Agriculture indicate that cocoa powder and dark chocolate are highly concentrated sources of natural flavanols. In general, the higher the cocoa content of a chocolate product, the more flavanols and the greater the antioxidant potential.

Conducted by the Yale Prevention Research Center, the study showed that drinking either sweetened or sugar-free hot cocoa made with Hershey’s Natural Cocoa powder can result in measurable improvements in arterial function. Scientific studies have shown that specific naturally occurring compounds from cocoa beans called flavanols may deliver health benefits. Flavanols can act as antioxidants and also are found in tea, fruits and vegetables. Recent data from scientists at Hershey as well as the United States Department of Agriculture indicate that cocoa powder and dark chocolate are highly concentrated sources of natural flavanols. In general, the higher the cocoa content of a chocolate product, the more flavanols and the greater the antioxidant potential.

“This study provides one more reason to enjoy hot cocoa,” said David Katz, MD, Associate Professor of Public Health at Yale, and Director of the Prevention Research Center that conducted the study. “The natural cocoa used in this study produced remarkable improvements in arterial function in the people tested. This study adds more evidence regarding the health benefits of natural flavanol antioxidants found both in natural cocoa power and in chocolate.”

In the study, 45 participants consumed a hot beverage containing either sugar-sweetened cocoa, sugar-free cocoa or a placebo without cocoa. Hershey’s Natural Cocoa, whose flavanol antioxidant levels are not reduced by the alkali process common to most commercially available hot cocoa mixes, was used. The study was a continuation of ongoing research into the health benefits of dark chocolate consumption.

Ultrasound technology and other procedures were used to assess the direct effects of the hot beverage consumption on arterial function and blood flow. Both the regular hot cocoa and sugar-free hot cocoa resulted in improved blood flow within two hours of consumption, compared with the placebo which had no impact. The greatest improvement in arterial function and blood flow was recorded following consumption of sugar-free hot cocoa. Elasticity and responsiveness of arterial function are hallmarks of a healthy cardiovascular system.

“The study provides more evidence on the positive benefits of hot cocoa,” said Debra Miller, Senior Nutrition Scientist, The Hershey Company. “We’re extremely encouraged by these results as we continue to conduct research into the positive health benefits of cocoa powder and dark chocolate.”

Tom Hernquist is Senior Vice President, Chief Global Growth Officer, of The Hershey Company, Hershey, Pa., a leading snack food company and the largest North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products. With revenues of over $4 billion and more than 14,000 employees worldwide, The Hershey Company markets a range of products specifically developed to address the nutritional interests of today’s health-conscious consumer.

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