Cocoa beans shield blood vessels from fats during stressful situations.

During stressful times, individuals often experience disruptions in their eating habits. They tend to become less selective about their food choices and gravitate towards fatty foods, which can adversely affect their vascular health. In such cases, consuming cocoa rich in flavanols can provide protection. These natural compounds are well-known for their antioxidant and health-promoting properties. Researchers from the UK have found that flavanols can mitigate the harmful effects of fats on the cardiovascular system.

2024-11-20 10:01:38https://naked-science.ru/article/medicine/kakao-boby

Flavanols are found not only in cocoa beans but also in green tea, various fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries. Researchers from the University of Birmingham focused on analyzing the consumption of cocoa with high and low levels of beneficial organic compounds by healthy adults.

The experiment involved 11 men and 12 women aged between 18 and 45 years. They had two croissants for breakfast with 10 grams of salted butter and one and a half slices of cheddar cheese (totaling 56.5 grams of fat). The meal was accompanied by a cocoa drink. In one case, 12 grams of alkalized (processed with high-temperature alkali) cocoa powder, containing up to 5.6 milligrams of flavanols per serving, was dissolved in a glass (250 milliliters) of milk. In the other case, non-alkalized cocoa, containing 695 milligrams, was used. The authors of the study explained that the alkalization process, used to enhance flavor in chocolate or confectionery production, reduces the percentage of essential organic compounds.

Afterward, the researchers gave the participants a one-and-a-half-hour break during which they could work on their own projects or watch a nature documentary. During this time, the group also filled out questionnaires assessing their mood, while medical professionals measured the blood flow indicators in the forearm, cardiovascular activity, and prefrontal cortex activity (link) using near-infrared spectroscopy (a non-invasive and safe method).

Following this, participants completed the PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test) neuropsychological test for eight minutes. This test is specifically designed to assess cognitive functions: attention concentration, information processing speed, and calculation abilities. Participants sequentially added presented single-digit numbers to the previous ones they heard, with time intervals for the task decreasing every two minutes: from 2.8 to 1.6 seconds. Participants believed they were competing and lost points for each incorrect answer, which made them anxious, a response the researchers associated with mental stress.

Both during and after the tests, researchers also evaluated the physical condition of the participants, their mood, energy, and fatigue levels. It was found that the group consuming the cocoa drink with low flavanol content experienced a weakening of the cardiovascular system's transport function, which facilitates blood circulation, during stress and remained at this level for another hour and a half afterward. In contrast, consuming the drink with high flavanol content prevented the fatty food from negatively impacting blood flow quality.

The study's results indicate the potential for dietary adjustments to protect the vascular system during stress. The scientific work has been published in the journal Food & Function.