Cup of Cocoa Protects Against Naughty Effects of Fatty Foods

FOOD CHOICES –

Nov. 18, 2024 – The food choices people make when stressed can influence the effect this tension has on heart health, experts say.

But now a small study has found that drinking cocoa (the key ingredient in chocolate) high in flavanols with a fatty meal can mitigate some of the impact the food has on the body. Flavanols are compounds found in some foods and drinks, like apples and tea … For people who are likely to reach for a fat-rich treat when stressed, or because it is quick or convenient, adding a cup of minimally processed cocoa or green tea “could make a real difference” for their health.

Dr Catarina Rendeiro, assistant professor in nutritional sciences at the University of Birmingham, and leading author, said: “We know that when people are stressed, they tend to gravitate towards high-fat foods.

“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.”