A University of Birmingham study finds that flavanol-rich cocoa and green tea can protect vascular health, even when consuming high-fat foods under stress.
New research from the University of Birmingham has found that consuming flavanol-rich cocoa drinks can protect the body’s vascular system from the adverse effects of stress and high-fat foods.
Published in the journal Food and Function, the research provides fresh insights into how everyday dietary choices can impact cardiovascular function during stressful periods.
“We know that when people are stressed, they tend to gravitate towards high-fat foods,” lead author Catarina Rendeiro, an assistant professor in nutritional sciences at the University of Birmingham, said in a news release. “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.”
In the study, a group of young, healthy adults consumed a high-fat breakfast consisting of two butter croissants with salted butter, cheddar cheese and whole milk. The participants were then given either a high-flavanol cocoa drink or a low-flavanol cocoa drink.
High-flavanol cocoa drinks contain significantly more flavanols — compounds found in various fruits, vegetables and teas known for their cardiovascular benefits.
“Flavanols are a type of compound that occur in different fruits, vegetables, tea and nuts, including berries and unprocessed cocoa,” first author Rosalind Baynham, a University of Birmingham doctoral student, said in the news release. “Flavanols are known to have health benefits, particularly for regulating blood pressure and protecting cardiovascular health.”
The participants were subjected to a mental maths test designed to induce stress, during which their forearm blood flow, cardiovascular activity and prefrontal cortex tissue oxygenation were measured.
The study found that the high-flavanol cocoa drink effectively prevented the decline in vascular function typically observed following the consumption of fatty foods and exposure to stress. Conversely, the low-flavanol drink did not offer such protection.
“This research shows that drinking or eating food high in flavanols can be used as a strategy to mitigate some of the impact of poorer food choices on the vascular system,” Rendeiro added. “This can help us make more informed decisions about what we eat and drink during stressful periods.”
Experts are particularly interested in how these findings can be applied in real-world settings where stress and poor diet often coexist. Modern lifestyles, often characterized by time constraints and high-pressure environments, make it challenging for many individuals to maintain a healthy diet.
“Modern life is stressful and the impact of stress on our health and the economy has been well documented,” added co-author Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, a professor of biological psychology at the University of Birmingham. “For those who tend to reach for a treat when stressed or depend on convenient food because they work high-pressure jobs or are time-poor, incorporating some of these small changes could make a real difference.”
Shoppers are encouraged to seek out minimally processed cocoa powder, as well as other flavanol-rich foods, such as green tea, black tea and berries. According to recent dietary guidelines, an intake of 400 to 600 mg of flavanols per day can be attained through the consumption of these foods.
The findings offer a promising avenue for reducing the adverse health effects of stress and poor dietary choices, highlighting the importance of maintaining a diet rich in naturally occurring flavanols.