Eating this much dark chocolate every day may lower the risk of diabetes.According to research

Eating this much dark chocolate every day may lower the risk of diabetes.According to research

Well, not exactly—but in a potentially unexpected finding, a recent study discovered that daily consumption of dark chocolate may lower the risk of diabetes. In three sizable cohorts, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health led the study, which examined over 111,000 participants, none of whom had diabetes, heart disease, or cancer. The subjects self-reported having diabetes and eating dark chocolate.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) study found that people who ate five or more servings of chocolate per week had a 10% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than people who ate it infrequently or never. Those who ate five or more servings of dark chocolate had a 21% decreased risk of developing diabetes.The risk decreased by 3% for each weekly serving of dark chocolate. According to the research's lead researcher, Harvard doctoral student Binkai Liu, foods high in flavonoids, such as dark chocolate, may have significant metabolic advantages.

Since milk chocolate did not exhibit the same advantages, it is crucial to remember that chocolate type matters. The researcher was surprised by the sharp contrast between milk and dark chocolate.

Due to its higher levels of cocoa and flavonoids, dark chocolate seemed to have preventive benefits against type 2 diabetes, but milk chocolate, with its lower cocoa content and added sugar, seemed to cause weight gain.According to Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina with The Lupus Dietitian, dark chocolate's flavanols are essential to its health advantages since they are "very anti-inflammatory.""I agree that the antioxidant and vasodilation benefits from flavanols can reduce the risk of diabetes,"

Any measure that lowers inflammation will be beneficial because diabetes is a metabolic disease. Registered dietician Erin Palinski-Wade of New Jersey says that the flavanols in cocoa can also increase the generation of nitric oxide, which can assist widen blood vessels and perhaps lower blood pressure.

The high calorie content of chocolate, notably dark chocolate, can lead to weight gain if ingested in excess.

The likelihood of residual confounding persists despite our efforts to control for numerous dietary and lifestyle factors. "Additionally, the study participants were predominantly older adults and non-Hispanic, so the findings may not be fully generalisable to younger and more diverse populations."

For example, those who prefer dark chocolate may be trying to cut back on added sugar in other parts of their diet and utilising dark chocolate instead of other sweet foods to satisfy their sweet taste.

The results of the study suggest that dark chocolate can be enjoyed sometimes, but moderation is essential, she said. She warned that chocolate, notably dark chocolate, is high in calories and might cause weight gain if ingested in excess. "

Dark chocolate cannot repair the harm caused by a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, or a lot of fast food. Overall, you should continue to consume a lot of water, plant foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds, and a lot of unprocessed meals.