Benefits of a high-flavanol cocoa drink

New study shows a high-flavanol cocoa drink can protect against the effects of stress-eating.

Stress triggers an increase in heart rate and blood pressure AND ALSO stress can make people gravitate towards fatty foods. But this is a bad combination because fatty foods impair the cardiovascular system’s ability to recover from stress.

It’s kind of a double whammy.

New research from the University of Birmingham shows that a flavanol-rich cocoa drink can protect the vascular system from stress – even after a high-fat meal.

Here’s what they found:

• Flavanols help prevent the vascular changes caused by stress and fatty foods.
• Participants who drank high-flavanol cocoa had a significantly better vascular response compared to those who drank low-flavanol cocoa.
• Flavanols also help regulate blood pressure and protect cardiovascular health.

The cocoa drink that participants consumed in the study provided 695 mg of flavanols, and the recommended daily intake of flavanols is at least 400-600 mg.

You can meet the daily intake by consuming 2 cups of green tea or a combination of tea, berries, apples, or high-quality and minimally processed cocoa.

The takeaway?

During stressful times, flavanol-rich foods can offset some of the negative effects of both stress and poor food choices.

New study shows stress hormones affect diabetes risk

The accepted belief has long been that obesity leads to insulin resistance and diabetes by impairing insulin signaling.

Now a new study brings that into question.

Here’s what to know:

• Stress hormones have the opposite effect of insulin. Whereas insulin acts to lower blood sugar, stress hormones act to raise it.
• Obesity triggers overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and the associated stress hormones.
• This study showed that elevated stress hormones in obesity counteracted insulin’s effects – even when insulin signaling still worked.
• Mice genetically engineered to produce fewer stress hormones did not develop diabetes despite being obese.

This study is significant because it suggests that the underlying mechanism to explain the link between obesity and insulin resistance may be different than what we have long believed.

Ready for the good news?

We have a lot of tools at our disposal to lower the sympathetic nervous system response and stress hormones. It’s called nervous system regulation. Check out the Nervous System Regulation article on the FAIM website.

Study shows many prenatals do not contain adequate amounts of choline or iodine for pregnancy

Results from testing 47 brands of prenatal vitamins were shocking. The study was conducted at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where researchers purchased prenatals both online and in local stores. They also included some prescription prenatal vitamins.

Vitamins were tested for levels of two essential pregnancy nutrients (choline and iodine) as well as for toxic heavy metal contaminants.

They found:

• Only 12 of the products (26%) listed choline content, and of these, only 5 contained the correct amount as labeled.
• While about half of the products listed iodine on the label, only 4 contained the correct amount as labeled.
• 7 products exceeded the safety limit of arsenic, 2 for lead, and 13 for cadmium.

Choline is extremely important for nervous system development, and iodine is needed for healthy thyroid function. Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA, which means it is up to consumers to identify brands that maintain the highest standards of efficacy and purity. If you are considering prenatal supplements search for respected brands.

New study finds microplastics in the human brain

The study examined brain tissue of 15 deceased individuals and found microplastics in 8 of them. The most common microplastic in the brain was polypropylene, which is found in food packaging and plastic water bottles.

Other studies have found that microplastics in other body organs may:

1. increase the risk of death from cardiovascular events
2. be linked to placental inflammation and preterm birth
3. cause hormonal disruption and male infertility
4. facilitate development of antibiotic resistance
5. contribute to the rise in food allergies

Their effect on the brain is unknown, but some evidence suggests they may be neurotoxic or linked to neurodegenerative conditions. What can we do?

We can minimize exposure to plastics in everyday life by:

• Using glass or stainless steel water bottles
• Using glass or stainless steel food storage containers
• Avoiding heating foods in plastic
• Saying no to plastic straws and utensils

Supporting our bodies in detoxification and choosing non-toxic products as often as possible can go a long way in protecting our organs and our cells from environmental damage.