Cocoa and green tea contain substances that can help prevent and treat renal complications or diabetic retinopathy, a study has shown.

A study by Brazilian scientists said cocoa and green tea help diminish deaths of podocytes, cells that restrict the passing of proteins into urine.

The two contain polyphenols and themobromine that can diminish the impact of diabetes, Xinhua reported.

The research was carried out by injecting rats with diabetes and growing human and rat cell cultures which were exposed to high concentrations of glucose to imitate diabetes.

Till now, cocoa and green tea were known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.