Cocoa may mitigate the impact of fatty foods and stress on vascular health, new research finds.
Cocoa rich in flavanols, a type of antioxidant, can protect us against vascular damage caused by stress and for high-fat meals.
The suggestions come from a new study led by the University of Birmingham, which highlights the potential benefits of combining a rich cocoa drink with fatty foods, to counteract the negative effects on the cardiovascular system.
The randomized trial, in Food and Function on November 18, involved 23 healthy young to middle-aged adults. Participants consumed a high-fat meal consisting of butter croissants, salted butter, cheddar cheese and whole milk.
Along with their meal, half of the group drank a high-flavanol cocoa drink, while the other half consumed a low-flavanol version. Next, participants were put through a stress-inducing mental math test.
In a later session, the groups switched drinks to ensure consistency of results. The researchers measured the diameter of the brachial artery (which supplies oxygenated blood to the body) and the carotid artery (which supplies oxygenated blood to the brain) before and after the meal and the stress test.
The results revealed that people who drank the high-flavanol cocoa recorded a improvement of vascular function. Their brachial artery recovered faster and maintained better blood flow compared to the low flavanol group. This benefit is important, as delayed recovery of arterial function has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
The dose of flavanol provided by the cocoa drink was comparable to two cups of green tea, 5.5 tablespoons of unprocessed cocoa or 300 grams of berries, according to .
