Cocoa Offsets the Dangers of a Sedentary Life Scientists Prove
Sedentary living is often described as the new smoking because of its destructive effects on the body. Prolonged sitting disrupts vascular function and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. Studies show that every two hours of sitting in front of the TV increases obesity risk by 23% and diabetes risk by 14%, and each additional hour of sitting raises the risk of sarcopenia by 33%. Against this backdrop, researchers at the University of Birmingham set out to see if flavanol rich cocoa could neutralize these harms. The study recruited forty healthy men aged 18 to 45 and split them into two fitness-based groups, with each group further divided to receive either a flavanol-rich cocoa beverage (695 mg) or a flavanol-poor beverage (5.6 mg) before two hours of sitting.
In This Article:
Birmingham Study Forty Men High Versus Low Flavanol Cocoa During Two Hours of Sitting
Researchers recruited forty healthy men aged 18 to 45 and divided them into two groups by fitness level. Each group was then split again: some received a flavanol-rich cocoa beverage (695 mg) and others a flavanol-poor beverage (5.6 mg). After drinking, all participants sat in chairs for two hours.
Results and Key Quotes
High flavanol cocoa helped maintain vascular function in the arms and legs during the two hours of sitting, while the low flavanol beverage was associated with deteriorating arterial function, higher diastolic blood pressure, and reduced blood flow, compromising oxygen delivery to the muscles. "Our experiment shows that a higher level of physical fitness does not prevent the temporary impairment of vascular function caused by sitting if you drink cocoa with low flavanol content," explains Sam Lucas, co-author of the study. "Importantly, after consuming the beverage with high flavanol content, both athletic and less physically prepared participants maintained vascular function at the same level as before the two hours of sitting."
Beyond Cocoa Flavanols Sources and Practical Takeaways
Not everyone loves cocoa, but flavanols can be obtained from other foods. Valuable sources include apples, plums, berries, nuts, green and black tea, red wine, kale, tomatoes, and peaches. "Given how widespread the sedentary life has become and the risk it poses to the vessels, consuming foods and beverages rich in flavanols, especially in combination with short walks or regular breaks to stand and stretch, may be a good way to improve long-term health regardless of fitness level," concludes co-author Katarina Randeyro. Earlier, scientists found that cocoa reduces age-related inflammation.
