Food choices made during periods of stress can influence cardiovascular health. A new study in Food and Function found that 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 from stress. “We know that when people are stressed, they tend to gravitate toward high-fat foods. We have previously shown that fatty food can impair the body’s vascular recovery from stress,” says lead author Dr. Catarina Rendeiro, assistant professor in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK.
