Foods and pharmaceuticals which contain cocoa and/or nut procyanidin(s) in
combination with L-arginine are effective to induce a physiological
increase in nitric oxide production in a mammal having ingested the
product. A preferred food product is a confection, particularly a dark or
milk chocolate containing nuts. The procyanidins may be natural or
synthetic and may be provided by food ingredients such as chocolate liquor
and/or cocoa solids prepared from underfermented beans and nut skins. The
L-arginine may be natural or synthetic and may be provided by food
ingredients such as nut meats, nut pastes, and/or nut flours, seeds, seed
pastes, and/or seed flours, or gelatin. The beneficial health effects may
include, for example, reduced blood pressure, resistance to cardiovascular
disease, and anticancer activity.
