Keep your heart healthy with cocoa and tea to undo the dangers of sitting for long, says study

Health benefits of cocoa and tea: Flavanols, naturally occurring compounds in cocoa, tea, berries, apples, and nuts, can protect your arteries from the hidden dangers of sitting (Image: Canva)

Think sitting is harmless? No! Is it avoidable? No again! Even if you hit the gym daily, prolonged sitting still stresses your blood vessels, and small declines in vascular health can sharply increase your risk of heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks. However, if you have a desk job you cannot avoid sitting.

Cocoa and tea could be the secret hack to protect your heart while you sit all day, says study

But here’s the twist, your kitchen might already hold the solution.

A new study from the University of Birmingham shows that flavanols, naturally occurring compounds in cocoa, tea, berries, apples, and nuts, can protect your arteries from the hidden dangers of sitting.

Also read | Health benefits of tea: Boosts heart health, manages weight, reduces stress, more

What the study says

• 40 healthy young men participated in a two-hour sitting experiment.
• Participants drank either a high-flavanol cocoa beverage or a low-flavanol version before sitting.

Results:

• Low-flavanol drinkers—regardless of fitness level—showed declines in blood vessel function, increased blood pressure, and reduced oxygenation.
• High-flavanol drinkers maintained healthy blood flow, proving flavanols can shield arteries from sitting-induced stress.

Dr Catarina Rendeiro, lead author, explains, “Even being fit doesn’t fully protect your blood vessels during long sitting periods. But flavanols can help preserve vascular function, regardless of fitness level.”

Also read | Cocoa extract may slow ageing and boost heart health, says new study

How to keep your heart healthy

Protecting your heart doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming. Even small consistent choices like sipping a flavanol-rich cocoa-drink,  a green tea or enjoying fruits, can make a meaningful difference. Your arteries, and future self, will thank you for these tiny, tasty daily habits.

Easy ways to add add flavanols

• Opt for cocoa drinks. Remember to choose minimally processed, flavanol-rich versions
• Snack on fruits like berries, apples, and plums
• Your favourite beverage can be tea; black or green
• Last but not the least, include nuts. Go for almonds, hazelnuts, and more
• Pair these with short movement breaks; like standing, stretching, or walking, and you’ve got a simple, delicious strategy to safeguard your heart.

Sitting is unavoidable in modern life, but a cup of cocoa or tea, and a handful of berries, might be the small but powerful hack your heart has been craving.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.