Food compositions that enhance nitric oxide mediated signalling
AssigneeThe Hershey Company
InventorsStephen J. CROZIER, David A. STUART
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Abstract
The invention includes compositions and methods for improving exercise performance or improving recovery of muscle tissue after exercise performance. One method includes administering a composition of a plant-derived nitrate and a cocoa-derived product daily and before exercise. The synergistic combination of nitrate and cocoa polyphenols acts to improve recovery from a strenuous exercise bout.
Claims7
A synergistic combination of flavanol-containing cocoa solids and plant-derived nitrates formed into a single-dose food product, the food product comprising approximately 100-200 mg of plant-derived nitrates as an extract of a plant material and approximately 2 to 5 g of cocoa powder, or the equivalent amount of a cocoa solids-containing product, where the cocoa is not treated with alkali conditions during processing into cocoa powder or cocoa solids, wherein the ability to generate nitric oxide between a first exercise period and a second exercise period is improved over that possible when solely a nitrate is administered or solely a cocoa product is administered prior to exercise.
The combination of claim 7, wherein the plant-derived nitrate is selected from one or more of a beet root extract or juice, a hawthorne extract or juice, a lettuce extract or juice, a celery extract or juice, rhubarb extract or juice, and arugula extract or juice.
The combination of claim 7, wherein the cocoa powder is present at about 2.5 to 5 grams.
The combination of claim 7, wherein the plant-derived nitrate is supplied as beet juice or a beet root extract and the cocoa powder is present at about 2.5 to 5 grams.
The combination of claim 10, wherein the combination is formed into a food product selected from a beverage, a gelled or starch-based product, a solid food product.
The combination formed into a food product as claimed in claim 7, wherein the nitrate is supplied as a vegetable juice, an herb juice, a vegetable juice powder, an herb juice powder, or any combination of one or more of these juices or powders.
The combination of formed into a food product as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cocoa solids are supplied as an extract of powder from unfermented cacao beans, an extract or powder from under-fermented cacao beans, and extract of cacao beans, low fat cocoa powder, or non-fat cocoa powder, or any combination of these extracts or powders.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.