Cocoa could protect you from the negative effects of fatty foods during mental stress - study - University of Birmingham

A flavanol-rich cocoa drink can protect the body’s vasculature against stress even after eating high-fat food.

Flavanol compounds found in abundance in cocoa and green tea can protect vascular function during periods of everyday stress.

Drinking cocoa high in flavanols in combination with a fatty meal can counteract some of the impact of fatty food and protect the vascular system.

For those who tend to reach for a treat when stressed or depend on convenient food, incorporating some of these small changes could make a real difference.

In the supermarket look for a minimally processed cocoa powder, and if cocoa isn’t your beverage of choice, there are other ways you can get a higher dose of flavanols, such as green tea, black tea and berries.