Have you ever wondered if your favourite chocolate could impact your health? A recent study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found a connection between eating dark chocolate and a lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes.
Benefits of dark chocolate for health
The study found that people who eat dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate could lower their chances of getting type 2 diabetes by up to 21%. Researchers explained that dark chocolate has special compounds called polyphenols, which might help reduce the impact of fats and sugar on weight gain and the risk of diabetes.
"Even though dark and milk chocolate have similar levels of calories and saturated fat, it appears that the rich polyphenols in dark chocolate might offset the effects of saturated fat and sugar on weight gain and diabetes," said Qi Sun, associate professor in the Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology. "It's an intriguing difference that's worth exploring more."
Why dark, not milk?
The study found a clear difference between dark and milk chocolates. Eating more dark chocolate was connected to a lower risk of diabetes, but eating more milk chocolate was linked to gaining weight over time.
"We were surprised by the clear split between dark and milk chocolate's impact on diabetes risk and long-term weight management," added Qi Sun.
The researchers warned that their findings don’t mean people should eat a lot of chocolate. The participants in the study ate only small amounts of chocolate compared to what most people usually consume. Eating too much, even dark chocolate, might not provide the same health benefits.
More research is needed on it
The researchers suggest further randomised controlled trials to understand how dark chocolate impacts health and to verify these findings. So, the next time you choose between dark and milk chocolate, remember—dark might not just satisfy your taste buds but also support your health.