Do you tend to reach for fatty snacks when you’re stressed? Researchers from the University of Birmingham may have a sweet solution to help protect your cardiovascular health – a comforting cup of hot cocoa!
The research team found that drinking cocoa rich in flavanols can help counteract the harmful effects of fatty foods during stressful situations.
The study highlights an intriguing defense mechanism that may protect your blood vessels when stress leads to unhealthy eating choices. For those who don’t typically enjoy cocoa, green tea also emerged as a beneficial alternative.
Dr. Catarina Rendeiro, the study’s lead author, said that, “We know that when people are stressed, they tend to gravitate towards high-fat foods. We have previously shown that fatty food can impair the body’s vascular recovery from stress. In this study, we wanted to see if adding a high-flavanol food to the fatty meal would alleviate the negative impact of stress in the body.”
The study was conducted on a group of young, healthy adults who were served a breakfast of two butter croissants with salted butter, cheese, and whole milk. Then they were given either a high-flavanol or low-flavanol cocoa drink. After that, they were put through a stressful experiment to understand their stress levels. It was observed that people who consumed a low-flavanol drink, showed reduced vascular function by 1.29 percent. While people who consumed a cup of hot cocoa demonstrated better results.
Cocoa, packed with flavanols, can help counteract the harmful effects of fatty acids in the body. While stress often drives us to make unhealthy food choices, a cup of hot cocoa can protect the blood vessels. For those who aren’t fans of cocoa, green tea offers a healthy alternative.
The study further added that this should not be the excuse to rush to get a cup of cocoa. Alkalization, a common chocolate-making process, can significantly reduce the amount of flavanol. It is better to stock up on minimally processed cocoa powder.
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