When feeling stressed, it is common to feel like eating foods that are fattier or rich in sugar, such as fried foods, sweets and fast food. However, these choices can increase the negative effect of stress on cardiovascular health. A recent study by the University of Birmingham in England found that high-fat foods can negatively affect vascular function and oxygen supply to the brain.
Now, a new study, carried out by the same team of researchers, has found that a drink made from cocoa in combination with a fatty meal can neutralize some of the impact of these foods and protect the vascular system from stress. According to researchers, this happens thanks to the high levels of flavonoids found in cocoa. The research was published on November 18th in the journal Food and Function.
“Flavonoids are a type of compound that occurs in different fruits, vegetables, tea and nuts, including berries and unprocessed cocoa. Flavonoids are known to have health benefits, particularly for regulating blood pressure and protecting cardiovascular health,” explains the study’s first author, Rosalind Baynham, from the University of Birmingham, in statement.
Professor Catarina Rendeiro, of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Birmingham and lead author of the study, adds: “We know that when people are stressed, they tend to gravitate towards high-fat foods. We have previously shown that fatty foods can impair the body’s vascular recovery from stress. In this study, we wanted to see if adding a flavanol-rich food to a fatty meal would alleviate the negative impact of stress on the body.”
To do this, the team gathered 23 healthy young men and women and gave them fatty foods such as two buttery croissants with 10 grams of salted butter, 1.5 slices of cheddar cheese and 250 mL of whole milk for breakfast. In addition, the researchers also gave participants a cocoa drink high in flavonoids or a cocoa drink low in flavonoids. The drink was made with 12 grams of cocoa powder in 250 ml of whole milk.
After a rest period, the team asked participants to complete a math test and alerted them when they got an answer wrong. During the eight-minute rest period and the eight-minute test, blood flow in the forearm, cardiovascular activity and oxygenation of the prefrontal cortex tissue were measured.
In addition, vascular function was also measured using brachial flow-mediated dilation, a prognostic measure for future risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to the researchers, the math test induced significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure, similar to the stress encountered in daily life.
Cocoa Drink May Help Reduce Stress and Cardiovascular Risk
According to the researchers, the team identified that consuming fatty foods with the low-flavonoid drink reduced vascular function by 1.29% and this effect lasted up to 90 minutes after the stressful event (the math test) was over.
The findings also showed that the flavonoid-rich cocoa drink was effective in preventing the decline in vascular function after stress and fat consumption. Brachial flow-mediated dilation was significantly greater after high-flavonoid cocoa compared to low-flavonoid cocoa 30 and 90 minutes after the stressful period.
The team also found in the previous study that eating high-fat foods attenuated brain oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex during stress. However, cocoa flavanols did not improve brain oxygenation or impact mood in the new job.
“This research shows that drinking or eating a flavonoid-rich food can be used as a strategy to mitigate some of the impact of poorer dietary choices on the vascular system. This can help us make more informed decisions about what we eat and drink during stressful times,” says Catarina Rendeiro, assistant professor in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Birmingham.
To obtain the benefits found in the study, the researchers suggest opting for minimally processed cocoa powder when shopping at the supermarket. In addition to cocoa, other drinks can also be good sources of flavonoids, such as green tea, black tea and red fruits.
“Modern life is stressful and the impact of stress on our health and the economy has been well documented, so any changes we can make to protect ourselves from some of the symptoms of stress are positive,” says Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Professor of Biological Psychology at the University of Birmingham.
“For those who tend to reach for a treat when they’re stressed or rely on convenient food because they work high-pressure jobs or are short on time, incorporating some of these small changes can make a real difference,” he adds.
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This content was originally published on Are you stressed? Drink made with cocoa can help, says study on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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