It is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This differentiates it from milk chocolate, which is related to weight gain. This is dark chocolate, rich in flavanols: chocolate that reduces diabetes and could offer important metabolic benefits.
Researchers at the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health in Massachusetts studied it. They analyzed the health and eating habits of 111,654 nurses. They declared their preferences for chocolate in surveys conducted in the 1970s and 1980s.
Assorted chocolate
What was the main finding after 25 years of follow-up? Eating five or more servings of dark chocolate a week was associated with a 21% reduction in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. This compared to those who rarely or never ate chocolate. This study took into account various dietary and lifestyle factors. It excluded people with extremely high or low caloric intake. In addition, dark chocolate seemed to promote weight maintenance.
At the same time, no similar relationship was found with milk chocolate. On the contrary, it was associated with weight gain. This underlines the importance of choosing between different types of chocolate. It is worth remembering that the results are not definitive proof of causality. Some risk factors have been taken into account, but the influence of other aspects cannot be ruled out.
Dark chocolate is rich in flavanols, compounds that can also be found in fruits and vegetables. They have many health benefits. Flavanols have previously been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Milk chocolate and white chocolate may not provide the same metabolic benefits due to high levels of added sugar. It is a known risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases.
Diabetes
Chocolate that reduces diabetes is good news to take into account. In 2019, about 463 million people had diabetes. That number is expected to rise to 700 million in the next two decades. The disease requires constant monitoring of blood sugar levels and nutrition. And it can cause serious medical complications. The study was published in B.M.J..
