Photo = Getty Images Korea When you are stressed, you sometimes turn to high-fat foods to change your mood. It is very bad for vascular health. However, new research has shown that a cup of cocoa or green tea can protect our bodies.
Flavanol, a natural compound found in abundance in cocoa, green tea, and black tea, improves blood vessel function and helps maintain cardiovascular health.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK demonstrated that eating a high-fat meal when stressed followed by cocoa high in flavanols can alleviate some of the negative effects of high-fat foods and stress on the vascular system.
The research results were published in the Journal of the Royal Society on the 18th (local time). ‘Food and Function’announced in
Dr Catarina Rendeiro, assistant professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Birmingham, who led the study, said: “We know that when people are stressed, they tend to prefer high-fat foods. “We have previously demonstrated that high-fat foods can impede the body’s vascular repair during stressful situations,” he said. “This study shows that adding foods high in flavanols to a high-fat meal can mitigate the negative effects of stress on the body. “I wanted to see if I could do it,” he said.
Researchers conducted an experiment on 23 healthy men and women (11 men and 12 women) between the ages of 18 and 45. For breakfast, they were provided with two butter croissants, 10g of salted butter, and 1.5 slices of cheddar cheese. Additionally, one group was given cocoa powder with a high flavanol content (695 mg per serving) mixed with 250 ml of whole milk (milk from which milk fat has not been removed). On the other hand, cocoa with a low flavanol content (6.5 mg) was mixed with whole milk. The daily flavanol intake for adults recommended by the American Dietetic Association is 400 to 600 mg.
After breakfast, they took a break for 1 hour and 30 minutes and then took a math test. You had to solve problems faster and faster over the course of 8 minutes, and if you submitted an incorrect answer, an alarm sounded, which was designed to cause stress.
Researchers measured blood flow in the participants’ forearm (between the wrist and elbow), cardiovascular activity, and prefrontal tissue oxygen saturation during an 8-minute math test and an 8-minute rest period. Additionally, brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) response testing was performed to evaluate vascular function. This is an indicator that can predict future cardiovascular and disease risks.
Stress-inducing math tests significantly increased heart rate and blood pressure. The researchers explained that this is a reaction similar to stress that can be experienced in everyday life.
Those who consumed a high-fat meal with a low-flavanol cocoa drink experienced a decline in vascular function (1.29% decrease in FMD) when under mental stress due to a math test, and this effect lasted until 90 minutes after the stressful situation ended. It is known that even if vascular function decreases by just 1%, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases by 13%.
On the other hand, cocoa drinks with high flavanol content were effective in preventing vascular function decline after consuming high-fat foods and experiencing stress. FMD levels measured 30 and 90 minutes after the stressor disappeared were significantly higher.
“Flavanols are a type of compound contained in various fruits, vegetables, teas, and nuts, including berries and unprocessed cocoa,” said researcher Rosalind Baynham, first author of the paper. “Flavanols are particularly effective in regulating blood pressure. “It is known to have health benefits, such as protecting your health and cardiovascular health.”
Photo = Getty Images Korea
Recent studies have shown that flavanols are effective in lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and dementia. Cocoa with a high flavanol content is not or minimally treated with alkali (mixing carbonates to remove sourness and darken color). It was done. When purchasing, you must carefully read the instructions.
If cocoa drinks do not suit your taste, you can replace them with foods rich in flavanols, such as green tea, black tea, berries, apples, pears, and nuts.
The researchers wrote that the vascular improvement effect of consuming high-fat foods during stressful situations can be achieved by consuming “2 cups of green tea, 5.5 tablespoons of unprocessed cocoa, or 300 grams of berries.”
Co-author Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Professor of Biological Psychology at the University of Birmingham, said: “Modern life is stressful, and the impact of stress on health and finances is well known, so we need to protect ourselves from stress symptoms. “Any change you can make is positive,” he said. “For people who snack when stressed, work under pressure, or rely on convenience foods (high-fat fast food) due to lack of time, these small changes can make a real difference.” “It can make a difference,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a previous study, the research team found that consuming fatty foods in stressful situations reduces oxygen supply to the prefrontal cortex. However, this study found that flavanols did not improve oxygen supply to the prefrontal cortex or affect mood.
Q: What are some dietary sources of flavanols that people can incorporate into their daily diet for better vascular health?
Introduction:
To begin our interview, we have two guests, Dr. Catarina Rendeiro and Professor Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten, who are both involved in the research study on the effects of flavanols on vascular health. Dr. Rendeiro is the lead researcher and an assistant professor at the University of Birmingham’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, while Professor van Zanten is a co-author and a professor of Biological Psychology at the same university. They will be discussing their recent findings regarding the benefits of consuming foods high in flavanols, particularly in relation to vascular health and stress response.
Section 1: Understanding Flavanols and Their Health Benefits
Q: Could you please explain to our audience what flavanols are and the potential health benefits associated with them?
A: Flavanols are a group of natural compounds found in various fruits, vegetables, teas, and nuts. They have been shown to have numerous health benefits, including improving cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and dementia. Consuming foods high in flavanols has been linked to better vascular function andlower blood pressure.
Section 2: The Impact of Stress on Vascular Health
Q: How does stress affect vascular health?
A: Stress can have a significant impact on vascular health, particularly when individuals consume high-fat foods. Stressful situations can lead to an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which in turn can cause damage to the blood vessels. When under stress, it is common for people to reach for high-fat comfort foods, which can exacerbate the negative effects on vascular function.
Section 3: The Impact of Flavanols on Vascular Health During Stress
Q: Can you tell us about your study on the effects of flavanols on vascular health during stress?
A: We conducted a study with 23 healthy men and women who consumed a high-fat meal either with low-flavanol cocoa or high-flavanol cocoa. Following the meal, they were subjected to a stressful math test. We found that those who consumed the high-f
