A new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (USA) involving nearly 112,000 individuals highlights certain foods and drinks that may help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
According to Science Alert, Harvard scientists conducted an analysis of a massive dataset from nearly 112,000 people tracked over 25 years to evaluate how dietary habits influence the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Dark chocolate or cocoa drinks with less sugar and milk can help you combat diabetes and manage your weight – (Illustrative Image AI: ANH THƯ).
Among the findings, volunteers were carefully surveyed on their chocolate consumption, a popular snack worldwide often linked to obesity and diabetes.
The results, published in the medical journal BMJ, showed that individuals who consumed more than five servings of dark chocolate per week had a 21% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely or never ate chocolate.
Furthermore, it appears that this food helps them maintain a better weight and body shape compared to others with similar diets. No such relationship was found between milk chocolate and Type 2 diabetes. Moreover, milk chocolate eaters seem to be at a higher risk of weight gain.
The magical effects of dark chocolate come from a group of bioactive compounds known as flavonoids, which are abundant in pure cocoa—the primary ingredient in chocolate bars.
To create chocolate, sugar, milk, and other additives are often added. Chocolate is referred to as “dark” when it contains 70-85% cocoa or more, depending on regional perspectives.
Therefore, besides consuming dark chocolate, you also have the option to prepare foods and drinks from pure cocoa. Of course, to prevent Type 2 diabetes, ensure that your chocolate bar or cup of cocoa is as “dark” and as low in sugar as possible.
According to the authors, while cocoa in milk chocolate is generally healthy, its anti-diabetic and weight-loss benefits are overshadowed by the high added sugar content—including sugar from milk—which increases the risk of diabetes and obesity.
