Scientists find cocoa flavanols can protect against sitting-related vascular damage

Sedentary Lifestyle No Match for Vascular⁤ Damage, But Common Foods Offer Protection, Study Finds

BIRMINGHAM, UK – Even rigorous exercise can’t fully negate the negative cardiovascular effects of prolonged sitting, but a new study from the University of Birmingham reveals ⁤a surprisingly simple⁢ countermeasure: flavanol-rich foods. Researchers found that consuming flavanols – compounds found in everyday foods – effectively prevented vascular dysfunction induced by‍ sitting ⁢in healthy young men, regardless of their fitness level.

The study, recently published, demonstrated that while physical fitness doesn’t prevent the temporary impairment of ⁢blood vessel function caused by sitting, participants who consumed a flavanol-rich drink maintained healthy blood vessel function even after two hours of inactivity.

“Our experience indicates that good physical condition does not prevent the temporary impairment of vascular function induced by sitting‍ when drinking only low-flavanol cocoa,” explained Professor Sam Lucas, cerebrovascular, exercise and environmental ⁣physiology expert ‍at the University of Birmingham and co-author of the study. “it is indeed vital to note that after consuming the flavanol-rich drink, participants in good physical fitness and those in less fitness maintained their FMD at the ⁤same level as before sitting for two hours.” (FMD refers to flow-mediated dilation, a measure of blood vessel function.)

Flavanols ⁤aren’t limited to cocoa; they’re readily available in a variety of ⁣foods including black tea, green tea, berries, nuts, apples, red onions, and kale. Incorporating⁤ these into a daily diet could provide similar cardiovascular benefits to the flavanol-rich drink used in the research.

Researchers suggest combining this dietary adjustment with regular, short bursts of movement – like a five-minute walk – to further bolster cardiovascular health. This offers a practical strategy for mitigating the risks associated ⁣with increasingly sedentary lifestyles.