A new research found that turning to fatty and other unhealthy foods for solace reduces vascular function and raises risk of heart disease.
Many people turn to unhealthy foods such as chocolate or crisps when they are feeling the strain, but researchers have found that this can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause poorer vascular function – which in turn can have a negative effect on mental health and cognitive function, and increase the risk of heart disease.
According to a report by The Guardian, the study involved a group of healthy young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, who were given two butter croissants for breakfast. The participants were then asked to do mental math, increasing in speed for eight minutes, and were alerted when they got an answer wrong.
The researchers found that consuming croissants when mentally stressed about the exam reduced vascular function and its ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the organs by 1.74%.
Previous studies have shown that a 1% reduction in vascular function leads to a 13% increase in cardiovascular disease risk.
“The experiment was designed to simulate everyday stress that we might have to deal with at work or at home. When we get stressed and eat unhealthy food, the vascular function declines,” said the study’s first author, Rosalind Baynham of the University of Birmingham.
The team also said that these findings are especially important for those in high-stress jobs and at risk of cardiovascular disease.
The researchers recommend people to resist sweets, chocolate and junk food and eat fruits and vegetables instead.