Stress can temporarily affect the body, and consuming fatty foods during such periods can prolong recovery. However, flavonoids in cocoa appear to protect vascular function, even when impaired by stress, which often leads to elevated blood pressure.
In the study, 23 healthy participants consumed a high-fat meal with either high or low-epicatechin cocoa drinks before undergoing a stress-inducing task. Their vascular function was measured through brachial flow-mediated dilation, which indicates arterial expansion in response to increased blood flow. The high-epicatechin group showed a quicker recovery from stress, with significant improvement in arterial function noted within 90 minutes.
Interestingly, other measured stress effects, such as prefrontal cortical oxygenation and blood flow, showed no difference between the groups.
The study highlights how stressful occupations can increase cardiovascular risks by up to 40%. Prolonged stress can lead to chronic hypertension or stroke due to increased stress hormones and inflammation. According to Catarina Rendeiro, prolonged impairments from stress can become permanent, elevating cardiovascular risk.
Cocoa’s epicatechin component enhances nitric oxide availability, an essential vasodilator improving vascular function. Dietitian Michelle Routhenstein notes that cocoa flavanols can reduce stress recovery time due to their ability to increase nitric oxide levels. Although cocoa did not significantly affect brain oxygenation under stress, its general benefits on vascular function offer a dietary strategy to mitigate stress effects.
Researchers suggest that cocoa, green tea, and berries, which are rich in flavanols, can aid in countering stress. However, they advise against consuming fatty foods during stress, despite the potential mitigating effects of flavanol-rich foods.
The findings offer a promising dietary strategy for managing stress’s physiological impacts, emphasizing the potential protective role of cocoa flavanols despite high-fat food consumption during stress. Nevertheless, moderation in fatty food intake remains prudent.
Source: MedicalNewsToday
