Improved Heart Health with Ceremonial Cacao, Adaptogens, Plant Superfoods & Ayurvedic Spices

The heart serves as the epicentre of our vitality, tirelessly pumping life-giving blood through our bodies. Yet, in our fast-paced modern world, maintaining optimal heart health can often feel like a daunting task. Wão, offers the opportunity to consume multiple powerful, researched ingredients to improve heart health in a warm and delicious drink, as part of your daily routine. In concert, these ingredients can enhance circulation, reduce inflammation heart related diseases and promote bioavailability.

 

Ceremonial cacao

Ceremonial cacao, Wao’s fundamental ingredient, is beneficial for heart health due to its high levels of antioxidants, which can help protect against cell damage and inflammation in the cardiovascular system. These antioxidants (which are present in amounts as high as 40 times that of blueberries) work to scavenge free radicals and promote nitric oxide release in the smooth muscle of the vascular system, widening blood vessels and increasing oxygen transport to tissues. This can lead to improved heart health by reducing the risk of hypertensive disorders and heart attacks. Additionally, ceremonial cacao is a rich source of magnesium, which is essential for maintaining healthy muscles, bones and teeth, and also plays a role in nerve and heart function. The theobromine content in ceremonial cacao provides gentle stimulation to the heart muscle, increasing whole-body energy without interfering with natural sleep-regulating hormones.

 

Beetroot

Beetroot gives Wao its distinctive pinky-purple colour. It is also beneficial for heart health due to its unique combination of compounds that enhance blood flow, improve the health of arteries, support lower homocysteine levels, and reduce LDL cholesterol. The nitrates in beetroot are converted into nitric acid in the body, which increases blood flow, improves lung function and strengthens muscle contraction, allowing for increased cardiorespiratory endurance. This also helps lower blood pressure in individuals with hypertension, as shown in studies where beetroot reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Beetroot is also a good source of potassium, which helps create more flexible blood vessels, further contributing to cardiovascular and heart health benefits. Research has shown that daily intake of beetroot can reduce harmful inflammation in people with coronary heart disease by increasing nitric oxide levels.

 

Bulgarian rose

Bulgarian rose has a positive impact on heart health due to its natural antioxidants, vitamins B, C and E, which help protect against cell damage and inflammation in the cardiovascular system. The antioxidants in Bulgarian rose, particularly the polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids), are potent in preventing free-radical cell damage, which is a key factor in heart disease.

 

Lion’s Mane

Lion's mane mushroom is beneficial for heart health due to its ability to lower cholesterol levels, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease. Research has shown that lion's mane can influence factors that increase the risk of heart disease, such as obesity, high triglycerides, and an increased tendency to form blood clots, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Additionally, lion's mane has been found to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the blood, which can lead to the hardening of artery walls and increase the risk of heart attack. The compound hericenone B in lion's mane also reduces blood clotting speed, further reducing the risk of heart attack.

 

Rosehip

Rosehip can improve heart health due to its ability to lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which are significant risk factors for heart disease. Research has shown that consuming rose hip can lead to significant reductions in blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad) cholesterol, compared with a control group. The antioxidants in rose hip, particularly the polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids), are potent in preventing free-radical cell damage, which is a key factor in heart disease. Additionally, rosehip is high in flavonoids, which have been shown to reduce blood pressure in people with elevated levels and improve blood flow to the heart. The high fiber content of rosehip is also associated with better heart health, and the antioxidants may play a role in this effect.

 

Rosemary

Rosemary is beneficial for heart health due to its ability to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. The antioxidants in rosemary, particularly the polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids), are potent in preventing free-radical cell damage. Rosemary's anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce inflammation in the cardiovascular system, which can contribute to heart disease. Additionally, rosemary has been shown to have a positive effect on lipid profiles, reducing triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol, while increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.

 

Cordyceps

Cordyceps has the potential to improve blood lipid levels, treat arrhythmia, and lower high cholesterol. Research suggests that cordyceps may have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which can help prevent or treat heart disease. Additionally, cordyceps has been found to reduce heart injuries in rats with chronic kidney disease, which is thought to increase the risk of heart failure. The adenosine content of cordyceps is believed to have heart-protective effects, and animal research has shown that cordyceps can decrease (bad) LDL cholesterol. While more human trials are needed to confirm its effects, cordyceps has been approved in China for the treatment of arrhythmia, a condition in which the heartbeat is too slow, too fast or irregular.

 

Reishi

Reishi mushroom contains bioactive compounds such as triterpenoids, polysaccharides, and peptidoglycans that are believed to provide therapeutic health benefits. Reishi's benefits for heart health may include support for healthy blood pressure, healthy cholesterol levels and cellular energy in the heart muscle. While most research has been conducted with cell line tissue cultures or lab animals, the health benefits reported in all of these studies reinforce the traditional uses for Reishi over the years. Some evidence links Reishi to healthy LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, and it may help decrease blood sugar, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and decrease triglycerides.

 

Jamaica pepper

Jamaica pepper is known to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. The potassium found in Jamaica pepper has a positive effect on heart health, as it is a vasodilator and releases much of the tension on the cardiovascular system. This causes an increase in blood flow through the relaxed blood vessels and reduces the strain on the arteries and heart, thereby lowering the chances of developing atherosclerosis, and subsequently, and heart attacks. Additionally, Jamaica pepper has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which is a key factor in heart disease. The antioxidants present in Jamaica pepper, including eugenol, quercetin, and gallic acid, also contribute to its heart health benefits by neutralizing free radicals and eliminating them from the body.

 

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is rich in micronutrients like vitamin C, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and iron, which can help lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation. Animal studies have shown that taking high-doses of nutmeg can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are key indicators of heart health. While human research is lacking, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of nutmeg may also contribute to its heart health benefits by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.

 

Ceylon cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon has the potential to support cardiovascular health by reducing levels of total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintaining or even boosting levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. This protective effect on the heart can be attributed to the presence of antioxidant compounds and anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the arteries, improving blood flow and reducing the risk of heart attack. Additionally, Ceylon cinnamon has been found to lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and improve blood sugar control, all of which are important for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. The cinnamaldehyde component of Ceylon cinnamon is believed to have blood-thinning properties, which can potentially reduce the risk of thrombosis or abnormal blood clot formation.

 

Turmeric

Turmeric improves the function of the lining of blood vessels, regulating blood pressure, blood clotting and other factors vital to heart health. Research has found that turmeric can help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, and preliminary studies suggest that curcumin may reduce the number of heart attacks in bypass patients after surgery. Additionally, turmeric has been shown to improve exercise performance and reduce oxidative stress, which can contribute to chronic diseases. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, particularly curcumin, have been found to match the effects of some prescription medications in controlling inflammation and pain, without the side effects.

 

Ginger

Research has shown that ginger can lower cholesterol levels, prevent blood clots and reduce blood pressure, all of which are important for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. The compounds 6-shogaol and 9-gingerol in ginger have been found to reduce cholesterol and LDL levels, inhibit atheroma plaque formation, and increase vessel elasticity, contributing to its antihypertensive effect. Additionally, ginger has been shown to reduce the release of inflammatory mediators responsible for endothelial dysfunction, and its antioxidant activity has been linked to favourable effects on blood pressure, decreasing the probability of ischemic heart disease and hypertension.

 

Black pepper

Black pepper can lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels in the body, thereby preventing cardiovascular disease and promoting heart health. The active compound piperine in black pepper has been found to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help manage various health conditions, including those related to the heart. Additionally, black pepper has been shown to improve blood sugar control.

 

Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper has positive impact on overall heart health with its high antioxidant content, which helps protect against cell damage and inflammation in the cardiovascular system. The capsaicin in cayenne pepper has been shown to protect against inflammation in the body, which is a key factor in heart disease. Additionally, cayenne pepper can help keep blood vessels healthy and may even lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart-related diseases like heart attacks. Research has found that people who regularly eat chili peppers, including cayenne, are 13% less likely to die than those who avoid them, suggesting a lower risk of heart-related diseases. Furthermore, cayenne pepper's vasodilatory properties help keep blood vessels wide, allowing for easy blood flow and maintaining a healthy blood pressure range.