More great study results, FlavaFans! The latest, out of the University of Birmingham, found that high flavanol cocoa protects our bodies against the negative effects of fatty foods and stress. In fact, artery flexibility increased over 20% in the high flavanol group while declining nearly 20% in the low flavanol group after the combination of a high fat meal and stressful math test.
Dr Catarina Rendeiro, Assistant Professor in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Birmingham and lead study investigator shared, “This research shows that drinking or eating a food high in flavanols can be used as a strategy to mitigate some of the impact of poorer food choices on the vascular system. This can help us make more informed decisions about what we eat and drink during stressful periods.”
The study put cocoa flavanols to the ultimate test! “We took a group of young healthy adults and gave them two butter croissants with 10 g salted butter, 1.5 slices of cheddar cheese and 250 ml whole milk as breakfast, and either a high-flavanol cocoa (695g) or a low-flavanol cocoa (5g) drink”, explained Dr Catarina Rendeiro. “Following a rest period, we asked participants to complete a stressful math challenge.” Boy did flavanols pass the test!
Rendeiro’s study builds on other research demonstrating the favorable impact of cocoa flavanols on stress. One study published in the journal Antioxidants showed a meaningful 29% reduction in cortisol levels (the ‘stress hormone’ found in our adrenal glands) after four weeks of consuming high-flavanol dark chocolate, daily!
FlavaNatural’s may not be able to eliminate stress from your life (sorry about that!) but our high flavanol cocoa can help minimize the impact of stress on your cardiovascular system and mood.