Study Finds Fewer Than 1 in 5 Get 500 mg Flavanols for Heart Benefits
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Jun 16
Study Finds Fewer Than 1 in 5 Get 500 mg Flavanols for Heart Benefits
3 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Jun 16
Summary
More than 30,000 people in the U.K. and U.S. were analyzed, and fewer than one in five consumed enough flavanols to reach levels linked to meaningful cardiovascular benefits.
Biomarker testing showed the shortfall persisted even among many people who already met standard fruit-and-vegetable targets, suggesting food choice matters as much as quantity for heart health.
Earlier evidence from the COSMOS trial tied about 500 mg of flavanols a day to a significantly lower risk of death from heart disease, a level the new study says most people do not approach.
Green tea, apples with skin, blackberries, plums and broad beans ranked among higher-flavanol options, pointing to more specific dietary guidance beyond the usual five-a-day message.