Here atEatingWell, we love chocolate. From ourOne-Bowl Chocolate Caketo ourChocolate Avocado Shake, there is no shortage of ways to use this popular ingredient for a delicious treat. It is also thefirst comfort foodthat people turn to, on good and bad days. Better yet, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) has some impressivehealth benefits, from boosting mental sharpness to helping reduce diabetes risk. Chocolate might actually have someheart healthy benefits, as well. A recent study looked into how flavanols found in cocoa, an antioxidant-rich ingredient in chocolate, can help protect your heart from stressful events.A recent study published inNutrientslooked at how the consumption of cocoa flavanols (an antioxidant found in fruits, vegetables and more) influenced the tax that stressful events can put on our heart. Mental stress can have a negative effect on our blood vessel function, which can increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, heart disease, diabetes and more. Participants in this study were given a flavanol-rich cocoa drink 90 minutes before completing an 8-minute mental stress test. Participants who drank the flavanol-rich cocoa drink had better blood vessel function during the mental stress test compared to those with non-flavanol-rich chocolate drinks. Better blood vessel function during stress can help lower the risk of negative heart health effects, such as stroke and heart attacks.So does this mean you should turn to hot cocoa or chocolate every time you run into a stressful situation? Not necessarily. In this study, participants received a drink consisting of high-flavanol cocoa powder and water, with no added sugar. This would result in a drink much more bitter than your average hot cocoa. Try to limit the amount of added sugar in the cocoa drinks and chocolate you consume. Making your own is a great way to control the sweetness. Also, choose dark chocolate when you can as it is typically higher in antioxidants than milk or other chocolate. Other high-flavanol foods, like fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and tea, can also help you reap the heart-healthybenefits of antioxidants.We have all experienced some additional stress over the last year. This recent study suggests that enjoying more flavanol-rich foods might help. Enjoy cocoa, dark chocolate and other antioxidant-packed foods to help protect your heart against mentally stressful events.Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Here atEatingWell, we love chocolate. From ourOne-Bowl Chocolate Caketo ourChocolate Avocado Shake, there is no shortage of ways to use this popular ingredient for a delicious treat. It is also thefirst comfort foodthat people turn to, on good and bad days. Better yet, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) has some impressivehealth benefits, from boosting mental sharpness to helping reduce diabetes risk. Chocolate might actually have someheart healthy benefits, as well. A recent study looked into how flavanols found in cocoa, an antioxidant-rich ingredient in chocolate, can help protect your heart from stressful events.A recent study published inNutrientslooked at how the consumption of cocoa flavanols (an antioxidant found in fruits, vegetables and more) influenced the tax that stressful events can put on our heart. Mental stress can have a negative effect on our blood vessel function, which can increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, heart disease, diabetes and more. Participants in this study were given a flavanol-rich cocoa drink 90 minutes before completing an 8-minute mental stress test. Participants who drank the flavanol-rich cocoa drink had better blood vessel function during the mental stress test compared to those with non-flavanol-rich chocolate drinks. Better blood vessel function during stress can help lower the risk of negative heart health effects, such as stroke and heart attacks.So does this mean you should turn to hot cocoa or chocolate every time you run into a stressful situation? Not necessarily. In this study, participants received a drink consisting of high-flavanol cocoa powder and water, with no added sugar. This would result in a drink much more bitter than your average hot cocoa. Try to limit the amount of added sugar in the cocoa drinks and chocolate you consume. Making your own is a great way to control the sweetness. Also, choose dark chocolate when you can as it is typically higher in antioxidants than milk or other chocolate. Other high-flavanol foods, like fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and tea, can also help you reap the heart-healthybenefits of antioxidants.We have all experienced some additional stress over the last year. This recent study suggests that enjoying more flavanol-rich foods might help. Enjoy cocoa, dark chocolate and other antioxidant-packed foods to help protect your heart against mentally stressful events.
Here atEatingWell, we love chocolate. From ourOne-Bowl Chocolate Caketo ourChocolate Avocado Shake, there is no shortage of ways to use this popular ingredient for a delicious treat. It is also thefirst comfort foodthat people turn to, on good and bad days. Better yet, chocolate (especially dark chocolate) has some impressivehealth benefits, from boosting mental sharpness to helping reduce diabetes risk. Chocolate might actually have someheart healthy benefits, as well. A recent study looked into how flavanols found in cocoa, an antioxidant-rich ingredient in chocolate, can help protect your heart from stressful events.
A recent study published inNutrientslooked at how the consumption of cocoa flavanols (an antioxidant found in fruits, vegetables and more) influenced the tax that stressful events can put on our heart. Mental stress can have a negative effect on our blood vessel function, which can increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, heart disease, diabetes and more. Participants in this study were given a flavanol-rich cocoa drink 90 minutes before completing an 8-minute mental stress test. Participants who drank the flavanol-rich cocoa drink had better blood vessel function during the mental stress test compared to those with non-flavanol-rich chocolate drinks. Better blood vessel function during stress can help lower the risk of negative heart health effects, such as stroke and heart attacks.
So does this mean you should turn to hot cocoa or chocolate every time you run into a stressful situation? Not necessarily. In this study, participants received a drink consisting of high-flavanol cocoa powder and water, with no added sugar. This would result in a drink much more bitter than your average hot cocoa. Try to limit the amount of added sugar in the cocoa drinks and chocolate you consume. Making your own is a great way to control the sweetness. Also, choose dark chocolate when you can as it is typically higher in antioxidants than milk or other chocolate. Other high-flavanol foods, like fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and tea, can also help you reap the heart-healthybenefits of antioxidants.
We have all experienced some additional stress over the last year. This recent study suggests that enjoying more flavanol-rich foods might help. Enjoy cocoa, dark chocolate and other antioxidant-packed foods to help protect your heart against mentally stressful events.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
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Tell us why!OtherSubmit
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