What's happened
Recent research indicates that consuming dark chocolate may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A study involving over 192,000 participants found that those eating dark chocolate five times a week had a 21% reduced risk compared to infrequent consumers, while increased milk chocolate intake was associated with weight gain.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent highlights that those consuming dark chocolate five times a week had a 21% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, while milk chocolate was associated with weight gain. The South China Morning Post emphasizes the importance of flavonols in dark chocolate, which may contribute to its health benefits. The New York Times notes that while the study shows promising links, it does not prove direct causation, suggesting that healthier lifestyle choices among dark chocolate consumers could also play a role. Overall, the consensus across sources is that dark chocolate can be part of a healthy diet, but moderation is essential.
How we got here
The connection between chocolate consumption and type 2 diabetes risk has been debated. Previous studies often did not differentiate between types of chocolate, which have varying cocoa, sugar, and milk content. This recent study aimed to clarify these differences using extensive data from long-term health studies.
More on these topics
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Milk chocolate is a solid chocolate confectionery containing cocoa, sugar and milk. Chocolate was originally sold and consumed as a beverage in pre-Columbian times, and upon its introduction to Western Europe.
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The BMJ is a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal. It is one of the world's oldest general medical journals. Originally called the British Medical Journal, the title was officially shortened to BMJ in 1988, and then changed to The BMJ in 2014.
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The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is the public health school of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts.