Certain healthy antioxidants found in tea and cocoa actually trick the body into a state of high stress fight or flight.
Flavanols like epicatechin are usually praised for their health benefits, but they act as pro oxidants once they hit the gut. This chemical reaction triggers a stress response that hyperactivates the sympathetic nervous system throughout the entire body. Instead of calming the system, these compounds simulate a mild threat that keeps the internal organs on high alert. The molecular structure of what we eat can override its reputation as a health supplement.
B-ring Reactivity of Flavanols Dictates Sympathetic Activation via Gastrointestinal Pro-oxidant Mechanisms
SSRN · 6619356
The B-ring hydroxyl groups of flavanols significantly influence their redox properties; however, their behavior in the gastrointestinal environment remains poorly understood. This study evaluated the stability and O2• − reactivity of (+)-catechin (CA), (-)-epicatechin (EC), which possess a catechol skeleton, epigallocatechin (EGC), which has a pyrogallol structure, and dimethylepicatechin (MeEC) under neutral pH conditions mimicking the oral and intestinal environments. Molecular dynamics (MD) s