Drinking cocoa helps protect the body from fatty foods

According to Science Alert, scientists have discovered that combining a high-fat meal with a special type of cocoa can minimize negative health effects.

Drinking cocoa for dessert after a high-fat meal will bring many positive health benefits - Photo: Lifeboost Coffee

Even short periods of high stress can cause mild, temporary impairment of the function of the body’s arteries. While eating foods high in fat may provide an immediate sense of well-being, research shows that saturated fat puts additional stress on the cardiovascular system.

However, now there is a new solution. Drinking cocoa for dessert after a high-fat meal is said to bring many positive health benefits.

Benefits of Antioxidant-Rich Cocoa Powder

In a randomized trial in healthy adults, researchers at the University of Birmingham showed that drinking antioxidant-rich cocoa powder can reduce the decline in blood vessel function caused by stress and high-fat foods.

The trial included 23 young to middle-aged adults who ate two butter croissants topped with salted butter and cheddar cheese and a glass of whole milk.

About half of the participants drank a cocoa beverage high in flavanols, antioxidants found in plant foods such as berries, tea, apples, pears, and some nuts. The other half drank a cocoa beverage low in flavanols.

Next, the participants performed a stress test. In the second test, they repeated the experiment, this time switching the drinks from the first.

After the high-fat meal and stress test, researchers found that the diameter of both the participants' brachial and carotid arteries increased.

The brachial artery carries oxygen-rich blood to the body, while the carotid artery carries oxygen-rich blood to the brain.

Notably, the brachial artery recovered more slowly in those who drank low-flavanol cocoa. Even 90 minutes after the meal and stress test, this artery still showed poorer blood flow response.

Although not severe, this level of decline is associated with a 9–13% increased risk of future cardiovascular problems.

However, those who drank high-flavanol cocoa were somewhat protected from these declines. The way their brachial arteries responded to changes in blood flow was improved compared to the group that drank low-flavanol cocoa.

"This is the first study to show that flavanol-rich cocoa can reduce the stress-induced reduction in brachial artery dilation following a high-fat meal," wrote the authors, led by physiologist Rosalind Baynham.

Small changes make a big difference

Currently, most people who eat a Western diet do not consume the recommended daily amount of flavanols, which is equivalent to two cups of black or green tea.

Some limited evidence suggests that these bioactive compounds may improve heart health and cognitive function.

“For people who often reach for junk food when stressed or rely on convenience foods due to work pressures or lack of time, making a few small changes like this can make a significant difference,” says Birmingham-based biological psychologist Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten.

“This study suggests that drinking or eating flavanol-rich foods may be a strategy to mitigate some of the negative effects of poor food choices on the vascular system,” said nutrition scientist Catarina Rendeiro. “This could help us make more informed decisions about what we eat and drink during times of stress.”

The study was published in the journal Food and Function .

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/uong-ca-cao-giup-bao-ve-co-the-khoi-thuc-pham-giau-chat-beo-20241210171700115.htm