The surprising drink that may protect your heart, new study finds

Most of us probably think of salads as part of a healthy diet, while considering sugary snacks to be eaten in moderation because they are bad for our bodies. If you have a sweet tooth, take note: a recent study found that there is a delicious drink that may actually help protect your heart. Read on to find out which drink you should have on hand for your heart health, and to learn more about how to keep your ticker in tip-top shape, if you can’t do that many push-ups your heart is in. danger, according to a study.

Mental stress can eventually lead to cardiovascular events, such as stroke, heart disease, or thrombosis. Fortunately, there are ways to lessen some of these negative effects. A March 27 study from the University of Birmingham found that drinking cocoa can help protect your heart when you’re under stress. The study, published in Nutrients, found that blood vessels were able to function better during stress when people were given a cocoa drink with high levels of flavanols as opposed to a drink without flavanols.

“We have found that drinking flavanol-rich cocoa can be an effective dietary strategy for reducing temporary alterations in endothelial function following mental stress and also improving blood circulation during stressful episodes,” lead author Catarina Rendeiro, PhD, of the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, said in a statement. And for drinks that could hurt your heart, if you drink that much coffee a day, your heart is at risk, a study finds.

Cocoa is not the only way to incorporate flavanols into your diet. “Flavanols are extremely common in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. By using the known cardiovascular benefits of these compounds during times of acute vascular vulnerability (such as stress), we can offer people enhanced advice on how to get the most out of their dietary choices during times of stress, ”says the press release. According to Rendeiro, you can achieve the dosage of flavanols administered in the study by consuming a variety of foods, including “apples, black grapes, blackberries, cherries, raspberries, pears, legumes and tea. green”. But cocoa could be the most delicious option. And to check your heart’s health, if you can’t do that in 90 seconds, your heart is in danger, a study finds.

Flavanols are good for more than the health of your heart. A 2015 study published by Nutrition Reviews have found that flavonoids can help lower high blood pressure. Another 2018 study in Drug found that a diet rich in flavanols may lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, certain flavanols may help prevent cancer cells from multiplying, according to a 2011 study by Pharmacological examinations. And for more health information delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

According to the study in Nutrients, “Stress is very prevalent in today’s society and has been linked to both psychological and physical health. Mental stress causes an immediate increase in heart rate and blood pressure (BP) in healthy adults and also causes temporary alterations in artery function, even after the stress episode has ceased. “Even single stress episodes have been shown to increase the risk of acute cardiovascular events, so consider add a cup of hot chocolate to your diet to protect your heart. And for more risk to your heart, if you have this problem with your eyes, your risk of heart disease is high.