Cocoa and tea could protect your heart 

Consuming foods and drinks rich in flavanols, compounds found in cocoa, tea, berries, apples, and nuts, may help protect your heart from the hidden dangers of prolonged sitting (University of Birmingham).  Modern life keeps many of us seated for hours: at desks, in cars, or on the sofa. Extended sitting has been linked to a decline in vascular function, a precursor to serious cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension.

Flavanols are naturally occurring polyphenols that support the cardiovascular system. Past studies have linked them to improved blood vessel function, particularly under stress. The new research, published in the Journal of Physiology, tested whether flavanols could counteract the effects of two hours of uninterrupted sitting.

Forty healthy young men, split by fitness level, were given either a high-flavanol cocoa drink (695 mg per serving) or a low-flavanol cocoa drink (5.6 mg) before sitting. The researchers measured indicators of vascular health, including flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the arms and legs, blood pressure, shear rate, blood flow, and leg muscle oxygenation.

Cocoa keeps arteries functioning

The results were clear: participants who consumed the low-flavanol drink experienced declines in FMD, increases in diastolic blood pressure, reduced blood flow, and lower leg oxygenation. Fitness level offered no protection. In contrast, both high- and low-fitness participants who consumed the high-flavanol cocoa maintained normal FMD and blood flow throughout the sitting period.

“Our experiment indicates that higher fitness levels alone do not prevent sitting-induced vascular impairment,” said Professor Sam Lucas, co-author of the study.

Importantly, after the high-flavanol drink, vascular function remained the same as before two hours of sitting.

This demonstrates that flavanols may offer a simple, accessible way to support cardiovascular health, regardless of physical fitness.

Flavanols in the diet

High-flavanol foods are easy to include in everyday life. Cocoa products, fruits like apples, berries, and plums, nuts, and black or green tea all contain these protective compounds. “Consuming high-flavanol foods and drinks during periods of sitting is a good way to reduce the impact of inactivity,” explained Dr. Catarina Rendeiro, lead author.

Combined with short breaks to stand or walk, this can enhance long-term vascular health for anyone.

In a world dominated by sedentary routines, a cup of cocoa or tea could be a simple act of heart protection.