Do you deprive yourself of some sweet chunk of chocolate to avoid the chances of getting diabetes? Well, we are here to tell you that a recently conducted study says otherwise. Eating dark chocolates does have some health benefits. It could also reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Are you also wondering how it is possible? No need to go anywhere, as we are here with a full-length article to tell you about the study, its findings, and how dark chocolate consumption has some health benefits you never knew. So, let’s begin.

Is dark chocolate even healthy?

Dark chocolate is healthy. It is a rich source of antioxidants, which could assist in reducing inflammation and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Similarly, it contains around 50% cocoa, which is more than milk chocolate. The higher the cocoa, the greater the health benefits.

Moreover, it contains high-concentration minerals such as zinc, iron, and magnesium and is also high in fiber and protein, which enhances its nutritional value. The minerals found in this chocolate regulate the immune system and oxygen transport to enzyme activity.

According to industry experts like Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the founder of Dietitian Insights, dark chocolate has more flavonoids like epicatechin and catechin than milk chocolate.

Dark chocolate nutrition facts per 100 grams (around 80% cocoa)

Calories: 604

Fat: 43 g

Sodium: 19 mg

Carbohydrates: 45 g

Sugar: 24.8 g

Protein: 8 g

Magnesium: 222 mg

Potassium: 719 mg

Calcium: 74.3 mg

Dark Chocolate and Type 2 Diabetes—What Did the Study Reveal?

Do not be surprised when you hear this, but this so-called study about dark chocolate and type 2 diabetes was done over a period of thirty-four years conducted by Harvard researchers—the Nurses’ Health Studies I and II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

Nearly 192,000 adults in the United States of America took part in this study. Not everyone had type 2 diabetes when the study kicked off. Still, the participants had to provide information related to their eating habits, chocolate consumption, and diabetes if they had any.

For the study, nearly 19,000 people were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Similarly, 5,000 out of 112,000 who consumed chocolate developed the condition. Subjects who ate at least 5 ounces of chocolate each week had a 10% lower incidence of type 2 diabetes than those who ate it infrequently.

Furthermore, the greatest risk reduction appeared in the people who consumed dark chocolate. For example, each weekly consumption was associated with a 3% lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. The disease was 21% less likely to occur in individuals who ate overall.

The findings of the study also concluded milk chocolate has fewer health benefits compared to dark chocolate.

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Are there any shortcomings of the study?

The researchers noted that the chocolate intake of the participants is low compared to the national average. Thus, the findings of the study might not be feasible for those who consume high quantities of chocolate.

Also, randomized controlled trials involving middle-aged volunteers, ideally for longer periods of time, should be the focus of future studies. These kinds of investigations would support the establishment of causation and offer a more profound understanding of the fundamental processes underlying the correlations, said an expert.

Therefore, expert guidance is needed if you also want to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by consuming dark chocolates. Be safe and healthy. That’s what matters above all.