Scientists have named a drink that will help protect blood vessels with a sedentary lifestyle

Scientists have discovered a simple way to protect blood vessels from a sedentary lifestyle. According to a study by specialists from the University of Birmingham, regular consumption of drinks and foods high in flavanols helps neutralize the damage caused by prolonged sitting, reports The Journal of Physiology.

Modern people spend an average of six hours a day sitting, which leads to a deterioration in the elasticity of the arteries and increases the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases. Even a slight decrease in the elasticity of the vessels can seriously increase the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke.

Forty volunteers with varying levels of physical fitness participated in the experiment. They were offered cocoa drinks with different flavanol contents. After two hours of sitting, those who consumed cocoa with a high concentration of these beneficial substances had practically no change in the condition of their vessels, while in the group with a low flavanol content, the elasticity of their arteries significantly worsened.

Professor Sam Lucas noted that even good physical fitness cannot fully protect blood vessels from short-term damage caused by prolonged sitting if there is not enough flavanols in the diet.

Researchers recommend including foods such as cocoa drinks, tea, apples, and various berries in your daily diet to reduce the cardiovascular risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.