Every healthy diet needs to be a balance of proteins, fiber, carbohydrates and other nutrients found in food and drinks.Each of these compounds brings different benefits to the body, and there is a certain minimum amount people need to consume for good health.
One of the lesser-known components are flavanols, a group of natural, plant-based compounds that act as antioxidants.
Flavanols support heart health, and previous research found that a daily intake of 500 mg significantly reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.However, a new study published in the Food and Function journal analysed data from more than 30,000 participants across the United Kingdom and the United States, and found that following current dietary guidelines — such as consuming any random five pieces of fruit or vegetables a day — is not enough to achieve beneficial flavanol levels."Flavanols can significantly reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, but only if you consume enough of them,” said Dr Javier Ottaviani, the study's lead author. “Most people assume that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables covers this, but what this research shows is that the specific choices you make matter far more than the total amount,” he added.
