Researchers have found that eating dark chocolate five times a week can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 10% compared to those who rarely or never eat it. The study, published in the BMJ, analyzed data from three long-term studies involving over 192,000 people and found that consuming one ounce (28.3 grams) of dark chocolate daily reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In contrast, milk chocolate was not associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, but rather an increased intake was linked to weight gain. The study suggests that the varying levels of cocoa, sugar, and milk in different types of chocolate may influence their impact on type 2 diabetes risk.
The findings come as diabetes UK estimates that around 4.4 million people in the UK are living with a diabetes diagnosis, with an additional 1.2 million possibly having undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. With rising obesity rates and cheap junk food contributing to the problem, Britain has one of the highest obesity rates in Europe.
To confirm these findings, further trials are needed. However, the study’s results provide a promising lead for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes through dietary changes.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/dec/04/eating-dark-chocolate-regularly-could-reduce-type-2-diabetes-risk-study-finds