Research has found that a flavanol-rich cocoa drink can protect the body’s vasculature against stress even after eating high-fat food.
Food choices made during periods of stress can influence the effect of stress on cardiovascular health. For example, recent research from the University of Birmingham found that high-fat foods can negatively affect vascular function and oxygen delivery to the brain, meanwhile flavanol compounds found in abundance in cocoa and green tea can protect vascular function during periods of everyday stress.
Now, in a new study, the same research team has found that drinking cocoa high in flavanols in combination with a fatty meal can counteract some of the impact of fatty food and protect the vascular system from stress.
The research has been published journal Food and Function.
View: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fo/d4fo03834g