A new study suggests that chocolate consumption may help prevent diabetes. Surprisingly, this applies to both dark and milk chocolate, with regular chocolate eaters showing a lower risk of developing the disease.
Researchers from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health published their groundbreaking findings in the prestigious British Medical Journal.
Cocoa, the star ingredient in chocolate, has long been celebrated for its health perks. Numerous studies have shown that dark chocolate, packed with cocoa goodness, can work wonders for your heart health by lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels.
But before you reach for that Hershey’s bar, hold up! Milk chocolate, with its added sugars, has typically been blamed for weight gain and isn’t exactly heart-friendly.
The research team was curious about how different types of chocolate might affect diabetes risk, so they embarked on a large-scale study.
They followed 192,208 adults for an average of 25 years, tracking their chocolate habits and diabetes diagnoses.
By the end of the study, 18,862 participants had been diagnosed with diabetes. Of the 111,654 individuals who reported chocolate consumption, 4,771 developed the disease.
Here’s the sweet news: People who indulged in about 1 ounce (28 grams) of chocolate at least five times a week had a 10% lower risk of developing diabetes than those who rarely or never ate chocolate. Even better? Dark chocolate lovers who ate the same amount saw their risk drop by 21%!
While dark chocolate didn’t seem to cause weight gain, milk chocolate enthusiasts might want to watch their intake – the study found that it could lead to extra pounds over time.
Before you consider indulging in daily servings of Godiva, take caution. Dr. Nestoras Mathioudakis, co-medical director of the Diabetes Prevention and Education Program at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, told CNN that chocolate should still be considered candy. He pointed out that it contains sugar, making it unsuitable for recommendation as a strategy to control blood sugar.
Binkai Liu, a doctoral student in the nutrition department at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, also urged caution regarding the findings. He noted that the observational study did not confirm a causal relationship between chocolate consumption and diabetes prevention. Liu further mentioned that while the study considered various dietary factors related to diabetes, other unknown elements could influence the results. He emphasized the need for more rigorous studies, including randomized controlled trials, to establish a direct link between chocolate consumption and diabetes prevention.
Most Commented