Mississauga Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
Mississauga Pain Clinic offering chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and orthotic services to residents of Churchill Meadows InMississauga
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! New research suggests your favorite treat, especially if it’s dark chocolate, might be doing more than satisfying your sweet tooth. According to a recent study from Harvard University, regularly enjoying dark chocolate could actually lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Researchers followed over 192,000 people from three large U.S. studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Studyfor up to 35 years. Their goal? To understand if chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, affects the risk of diabetes.
Here’s the sweet news: participants who ate dark chocolate at least five times per week showed a 21% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those who rarely or never ate chocolate. Even better, each additional serving of dark chocolate per week was linked with a 3% drop in diabetes risk. Unfortunately, milk chocolate didn’t offer these health perks and was actually associated with weight gain.
Why does dark chocolate make a difference? It’s rich in flavanols, powerful antioxidants known to boost insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, and protect the cells responsible for managing blood sugar levels. Milk chocolate, however, has much less cocoa and flavanols, and usually contains more sugar and fat, which might cancel out any potential health benefits.
Interestingly, the study also found that higher consumption of milk chocolate led to noticeable weight gain over the years, while dark chocolate consumption wasn’t associated with gaining extra pounds. This might reassure dark chocolate lovers who worry about indulging too much.
Another intriguing point: the protective benefits of dark chocolate seemed stronger in younger adults under 70 and in those who maintained a generally healthier diet. This suggests that pairing dark chocolate with overall healthy eating habits could amplify its positive effects.
Of course, moderation is key. Researchers caution that while dark chocolate shows promise, it’s best enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. Future studies and clinical trials are still needed to fully confirm and explore these tasty findings.
In the meantime, it might just be a good excuse to savor that piece of dark chocolate guilt-free, knowing you might be doing your body, and taste buds, a favor.
