Exciting news on the blood sugar front, FlavaFans! A new study, following 192,000 healthcare professionals over decades, shows regular dark chocolate consumption (5 or more times per week) reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 21%, compared to those who rarely or never eat chocolate.
“Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, is rich in bioactive compounds called flavonoids, such as flavanols, which have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity,” study lead author Binkai noted. “These mechanisms may contribute to better blood sugar regulation and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes “.
Eating more milk chocolate, unsurprisingly, was not associated with lower diabetes risk, but instead linked with long-term weight gain, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
This long-term study, published in the British Medical Journal, was not placebo controlled but did adjust for potential data confounders, including overall dietary quality and socioeconomic status. The study builds on the results of several shorter-term placebo-controlled clinical trials showing that cocoa flavanols (500-1,000mg daily) significantly lower blood sugar and improve insulin resistance.
Yet another reason to enjoy your daily cocoa flavanols!