A recent study conducted by German researchers has found that the flavanols in cocoa, fruit and tea may help people maintain healthy heart circulation as they age, according to The Guardian. The month-long study found that middle-aged people in good health who drank two flavanol drinks per day possessed lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure than the control group, who drank similar drinks that contained no flavanols.
The study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, utilized 105 people between the ages of 35 to 60 and had them drink two drinks per day, each consisting of 500mL of water and 450mg of powder. The experimental groups drank flavanol powder, whereas the control groups drank powder containing no flavanol.
Flavanols had beneficial effects on many factors related to cardiovascular health with age including arterial stiffness, flow-mediated vasodilation and blood pressure, according to Science Codex.
Flavanols have long been shown to have many health benefits, as evidenced in a previous study that showed a connection to the reversal of memory decline in older adults, according to the National Post.
"When we imaged our research subjects' brains, we found noticeable improvements in the function of the dentate gyrus in those who consumed the high-cocoa-flavanol drink," said Adam M. Brickman, lead author of the study.
Foods such as cocoa, fruit and tea all contain flavanols, giving them potential for helping maintain healthy cardiovascular health and preventing age-related memory decline when integrated into a healthy diet.
