Eating Dark Chocolate May Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers found that people who ate 5 ounces of any type of chocolate weekly had a 10% lower risk, but those who ate at least five servings of dark chocolate each week had a 21% lower chance of developing the disease compared to those who didn’t eat dark chocolate.
The study, published in The BMJ, used more than 30 years’ worth of data from 192,000 adults. Unlike previous studies, this research compared dark and milk chocolate instead of lumping both types of chocolate together.
The Cocoa Content is the Major Difference
"The cocoa content, we believe, is the major difference that contributes to the differential association between chocolate and diabetes," said Binkai Liu, MS, a PhD student in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and lead author of the study.
In other words, "eating dark chocolate might be associated with lower risk of type two diabetes in the long term, but eating milk chocolate will not give you the same benefit," Liu said.
Some Studies Say Chocolate Does Not Lower Diabetes Risk
A small 2020 meta-analysis suggests that a lot of the evidence linking chocolate and chronic disease risk is limited or uncertain. Since research findings are inconsistent about dark chocolate preventing type 2 diabetes, you don’t need to force yourself to eat it for health benefits if you don’t like the bitter flavor.
Milk and Dark Chocolate Can Fit into a Healthy Eating Plan
Even if this new study leads you to eat dark chocolate, you don’t have to cut milk chocolate out of your diet completely. "Milk chocolate in moderation is unlikely to cause type 2 diabetes directly" and a variety of factors like genetics, access to healthcare, and food security all influence the risk of developing the disease.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study suggests that eating dark chocolate may be associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but more research is needed to confirm this finding. It is also important to note that milk chocolate did not show the same association with type 2 diabetes risk.
FAQs
Q: How much dark chocolate should I eat to reduce my risk of type 2 diabetes?
A: The study found that eating at least five servings of dark chocolate per week was associated with a 21% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Q: Can I still eat milk chocolate if I don’t like dark chocolate?
A: Yes, you can still eat milk chocolate in moderation. It is unlikely to cause type 2 diabetes directly.
Q: How does the cocoa content of chocolate affect its association with type 2 diabetes risk?
A: The study suggests that the cocoa content of chocolate is the major difference that contributes to the differential association between chocolate and diabetes.
