Specific Fruit Choices Raise Flavanol Intake — and Most Diets Fall Short

Specific Fruit Choices Raise Flavanol Intake — and Most Diets Fall Short

Author: Dr. Mercola September 12, 2026 Duration: 6:45
  • Previous research, including the large COSMOS clinical trial, found that consuming about 500 milligrams (mg) of flavanols daily was associated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and fewer major cardiovascular events. However, note that COSMOS tested a cocoa extract supplement rather than food, enrolled adults aged 60 and older, and the reduction in major cardiovascular events came from a post hoc analysis
  • The featured study found following current fruit and vegetable recommendations didn't provide enough flavanols for most people to reach the intake linked with better heart health, showing that which foods you choose affects flavanol intake more than how many servings you eat. Even then, high-flavanol produce did not reliably reach the 500 mg benchmark in the researchers' simulations
  • Researchers analyzed more than 30,000 people from the U.S. and United Kingdom using objective laboratory measurements instead of relying only on food questionnaires, giving a more accurate picture of real-world flavanol intake
  • Apples, blueberries, blackberries, cherries, pears, plums, green tea, and minimally processed cocoa are among the foods that naturally provide higher amounts of flavanols, making them smart additions to a heart-healthy eating pattern
  • Instead of simply eating more produce, rotating a wider variety of flavanol-rich fruits and other plant foods into your meals is an easy way to increase these beneficial compounds while enjoying the many other nutrients whole foods provide

Each week, Dr. Joseph Mercola-Take Control of Your Health offers a direct conversation about navigating the often-confusing world of wellness. Dr. Mercola brings decades of experience as a natural health advocate to these discussions, focusing on practical strategies that go beyond conventional approaches. The episodes dig into the interconnected areas of holistic health, physical fitness, and alternative methods for building resilience. You’ll hear detailed explorations of how everyday choices impact long-term vitality, with an emphasis on personal agency and evidence-informed alternatives. This isn’t about quick fixes but about understanding the underlying principles that can help you make better decisions for yourself and your family. The tone is straightforward and investigative, aiming to equip you with knowledge that is frequently overlooked. Tuning into this podcast feels like accessing a deep resource of non-mainstream health perspectives, all centered on the fundamental goal of sustainable well-being. It’s for anyone who feels that managing their health requires looking at the full picture, from nutrition and movement to the less obvious environmental factors. Dr. Mercola’s weekly insights serve as a catalyst for taking a more active, informed role in your own health journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Podcast Episodes
Wegovy Linked to Rare 'Eye Stroke' That Can Cause Sudden Blindness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:41
Researchers found that Wegovy showed the strongest reported association with a rare optic nerve injury that can cause sudden vision loss, raising new questions about the safety of high-dose semaglutide formulations Men u…
How to Stay Motivated to Exercise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:51
Long-term exercise success depends less on willpower than on choosing activities you enjoy, keeping workouts at a manageable level and creating a routine that fits naturally into your daily life Positive experiences duri…
Why Food-Based Formats Change Behavior [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:12
We're wired to embrace food and to resist anything that feels like medicine — and day to day, behavior follows that feeling far more than it follows logic Nutritional supplements in food-based formats slip into meals you…
Insufficient Sleep Strongly Predicts Reduced Long-Term Well-Being [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:33
Sleeping fewer than seven hours per night is strongly linked to reduced long-term well-being, even when factors like diet, exercise, income, and access to health care are taken into account Large-scale U.S. data shows sl…
This Silent Health Crisis Is Now Affecting Nearly 800 Million People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:27
Chronic kidney disease now affects an estimated 788 million adults worldwide, roughly one in seven adults, making it one of the largest and fastest-growing chronic health challenges on the planet Most people with kidney…
Oral Cancer Risk Could Be Raised by This Common Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:09
A study of more than 450,000 adults found that every additional 30 grams of processed meat consumed daily was associated with a 9% higher risk of gastric cancer and a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma People w…
The Need to End Mercury Fillings for Children Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
Dental amalgam is approximately 50% mercury by weight, and it releases a vapor that can be inhaled and absorbed, with children's developing neurological systems potentially more sensitive to its effects Since 2020, the U…
When 'More' Stops Working [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:09
The supplement aisle runs on a single promise — that bigger numbers are better — but past a point, "more" stops translating into more that your body actually keeps The neon-yellow urine after a big multivitamin is mostly…