Eat more chocolate to reduce diabetes risk, says study (yes, really)
Craving chocolate? You might want to reach for the dark variety. A ‘controversial’ new study suggests that eating dark chocolate a few times a week could lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes – a condition affecting more than 5.6 million people in the UK, according to Diabetes UK.
The research
The researchers, who published their findings in The BMJ, examined data from over 190,000 participants across three long-term health studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.
The method
Participants reported their chocolate consumption through detailed food questionnaires every four years, along with their diabetes status, over 25 years.
The researchers then examined the link between type 2 diabetes and total chocolate consumption in 192,028 people, and chocolate type – dark or milk – in 111,654 people.
The results
Researchers found that those who consumed a one-ounce serving (roughly 28g) of any chocolate, at least five times a week, were 10% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely or never indulged in chocolate.
But, when the researchers looked more specifically at the types of chocolate people liked, they found there was no significant drop in diabetes risk for people who said they preferred milk chocolate.
However, participants who consumed more than five servings a week of dark chocolate were 21% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Those who ate dark chocolate also didn’t seem to have long-term weight gain over time, in comparison to those increasing their intake of milk chocolate.
What does this mean for us?
Of course, like all studies, further trials are needed to confirm the findings. But it’s a promising result for dark chocolate lovers, as this study shows not all chocolate is created equal when it comes to health benefits.
It’s not the first research to link small amounts of dark chocolate to good health, either. One study, published in Nature earlier this year, found that ‘dark chocolate intake was significantly associated’ with a lower risk of high blood pressure.
Dark chocolate has also been linked to increased cerebral blood flow, improved oxygen and glucose delivery, and increased cognitive function.
The bottom line
It's important to note that most previous studies did not differentiate between chocolate subtypes – eg, dark and milk – which differ in their cocoa, sugar and milk content.
While dark chocolate might not be a silver bullet for drastically improved health, when paired with a nutrient-rich diet and regular exercise, this study shows it could be an effective (and delicious) way to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Read next:
A cup of cocoa could protect you from the negative effects of fatty foods
A sweet treat here and there may be good for you, study finds
Should porridge be considered junk food under new UK ad rules?
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