Dark Chocolate Linked to 21% Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Harvard Study Finds
Research involving over 192,000 participants highlights potential health benefits of dark chocolate, while cautioning against overconsumption and emphasizing the need for further study.
- A Harvard study found that consuming at least five servings of dark chocolate per week was associated with a 21% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- Participants who ate any type of chocolate had a 10% reduced risk of diabetes, but the benefit was exclusive to dark chocolate when types were distinguished.
- Milk chocolate consumption was linked to long-term weight gain, a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and did not show similar protective effects.
- Researchers attribute dark chocolate's potential benefits to its high cocoa content and bioactive compounds like flavanols, which may improve insulin sensitivity.
- Experts caution that the study is observational and does not prove causation, urging moderation and further randomized trials to confirm findings.
The Japan Times 
The Jerusalem Post 