Chocolate is considered one of the sweet temptations that many find hard to resist. If you are among those who love dark chocolate you will be glad to hear the results of a new large scale study published recently.
The study included more than one hundred ninety two thousand health professionals.
It gathered data collected for more than thirty years and it included participants from three national studies.
The average age of the participants was forty seven and none were diagnosed with diabetes at the beginning.
During the years the participants reported their eating habits including chocolate consumption their health condition their weight and whether they were diagnosed with diabetes.
At the end of the follow up almost nineteen thousand participants reported that they were diagnosed with diabetes.
However it turned out that participants who ate at least five servings of dark chocolate a week had a lower chance by twenty one percent to develop diabetes compared to those who rarely consumed dark chocolate or did not consume it at all.
According to the findings eating chocolate especially dark chocolate several times a week may reduce the chance of developing type two diabetes.
Dark chocolate contains at least fifty percent cocoa and sometimes more while milk chocolate usually contains less cocoa and more added sugar.
As the cocoa percentage is higher the amount of polyphenols and antioxidant compounds in the chocolate increases and the amount of sugar decreases.
The relatively low glycemic index value leads to a more moderate rise in blood sugar levels after consuming it compared to milk chocolate.
The active compounds in dark chocolate mainly flavonoids and flavan three ols have antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects.
These compounds have been shown in other studies to improve insulin sensitivity and blood vessel function which helps balance blood glucose levels.
Moreover these compounds also inhibit enzymes in the small intestine that break down carbohydrates into glucose a process that slows sugar absorption and prevents sharp rises in blood sugar levels after eating.
In other words dark chocolate helps regulate blood sugar naturally and supports metabolic health.
Although dark chocolate and milk chocolate contain similar amounts of saturated fat dark chocolate may contain less sugar especially when it includes seventy percent cocoa or more.
The researchers suggest that the polyphenols may also neutralize part of the effects of fat and sugar in the body which may explain why it is considered less fattening compared to other sweets.
Despite the advantages dark chocolate is still high in calories so it is recommended to consume it in moderation.