A cup of tea or cocoa could help counter the harmful effects of fatty foods They contain flavonols, which help support blood vessel function People who ate a fatty meal had better blood vessel function under stress if they also drank high-flavonol cocoa MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Folks who stress-eat fatty foods like cookies, chips and ice cream might be able to protect their health with a nice cup of cocoa or green tea, a new study says. Drinking cocoa that’s high in healthy flavanols along with a fatty meal can counteract some of the impact of fats on the body, particularly the blood vessels, researchers found.
“Flavanols are a type of compound that occur in different fruits, vegetables, tea and nuts including berries and unprocessed cocoa,” said lead investigator Rosalind Baynham , a research fellow with the University of Birmingham in the U.K. "Flavanols are known to have health benefits, particularly for regulating blood pressure and protecting cardiovascular health.
” For the study, researchers asked young and healthy adults to eat two butter croissants, a slice and a half of cheddar cheese, and half a pint of whole milk for breakfast. The participants also were randomly assigned to drink cocoa either high or low in flavanols. The research team then subjected the participants to a stressful math test, and monitored their blood vessel function and heart activity.
“This stress task induced significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure, sim.