Stressed? Cocoa’s got your back (and your heart)

It might protect your blood vessels when stress leads to comfort eating.

 

Stressed and craving comfort food? Cocoa could help When stress strikes, many of us reach for fatty comfort foods. Now, scientists at the University of Birmingham have discovered a potential ally in managing the aftermath: cocoa. Their research reveals that drinking cocoa before consuming high fat foods helps our bodies bounce back more quickly from stress's effects on blood vessels. The key is epicatechin, a compound in cocoa that increases nitric oxide, helping blood vessels relax and function better when stress and fatty foods would otherwise impair them. "The good news is that, when you're stressed, if you can't help but reach for the fatty food, by adding a healthy flavanol-rich food to that meal, you can minimize the effects of stress and fat combined in vascular function," explained Dr. Catarina Rendeiro, the study's lead author. Don't have any cocoa (or dark chocolate) on hand? Two cups of green tea or a handful of blueberries offer similar protection. But researchers stress that the best approach remains avoiding fatty comfort foods during stressful times — they can trigger inflammation and hormones that may damage your heart. To learn more about how cocoa protects your blood vessels when stress hits, jump to "Cocoa drink may relieve stress, protect against impact of fatty foods." Also making headlines this week: Daily walking may add years to your life span Any moderate exercise could help keep your brain sharp Can weight loss drugs cause unhealthy muscle loss? We love to hear from you, so please email us if you have any feedback, comments, or questions about this weekend's Sunday Supplement. Stay informed and stay healthy! Tim Snaith Newsletter Editor, Medical News Today

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