At this time of year, chocolate is everywhere. Any direction we turn in, there is chocolate within reach! It is frustrating when you are attempting to stick to a healthy plan. With planning, you can enjoy a treat and make it part of a healthy diet. You have to pay attention to portion sizes and your overall diet to enjoy yourself during the holidays.
According to a new study, one type of chocolate may aid your blood sugar. Many studies have found that the polyphenols in cocoa can lower inflammation and blood pressure while boosting mood. A new study has found that people who eat a little dark chocolate daily are less likely to develop a serious blood sugar concern. Eating about an ounce of dark chocolate a day was linked to a 21 percent lower risk.
“We are a little bit surprised to see that effect size,” said study author Dr. Qi Sun, an associate professor at Harvard Univ.
Dietary questionnaires from around 192,000 adults were compiled over years. The questions included asking people about the amount, frequency and type of chocolate they ate. People who ate milk chocolate tended to gain weight throughout the study, and saw no link between their chocolate consumption and blood sugar health. People who ate dark chocolate tended not to gain weight.
Dark chocolate generally has more cocoa in it than milk. The flavanols in cocoa tell the body to make nitric oxide. That helps blood vessels dilate and lowers blood pressure. Flavanols also act as antioxidants, and research has suggested they can help with weight management, metabolic health and blood sugar.
In the study, researchers did a test after learning the results of the questionnaires. When cells that produce insulin were given a flavanol found in cocoa, they released insulin at much better rates. The test was performed on human cells but in petri dishes, not in the body.
The researchers noted that people who eat a small amount of dark chocolate daily might have other habits in common. Their choice of dark chocolate over milk might be part of a healthy lifestyle where they always opt for healthier, less sweet versions of things.
It’s also essential to note that foods other than chocolate contain flavanols. “Chocolate products are candy and contain sugar, so I don’t encourage people to consume chocolate for better glucose control, and I’m not sure that I would on the basis of this study alone,” said Dr. Nestoras Mathioudakis of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “I would suggest alternative sources, especially dark berries such as blueberries, blackberries and pomegranates, apples and tea. Red wine contains flavanols as well, but again, I would not recommend wine either.”
While this study shouldn’t encourage you to eat more chocolate, it might help you not feel too guilty over the holidays. When it comes to enjoying the holidays, it’s often a case of looking at food options and choosing the best available from slim pickings. When you want a sweet treat, reach for the dark chocolate and keep the portion size small. You’ll get a wonderful seasonal treat, and your blood sugar may be benefited!
