Harvard study finds 'candy' that reduces risk of diabetes

In a study recently published in the medical journal BMJ, scientists from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (USA) discovered that a popular 'candy' can reduce the risk of diabetes by up to 21%.

In a study funded by the US National Institutes of Health, scientists from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (USA) used data from three large studies, including 192,028 participants who did not have diabetes at the beginning of the study, followed for 25 years, to examine the link between type 2 diabetes and total chocolate consumption, according to the science news site ScitechDaily.

Researchers examined the link between type 2 diabetes and total chocolate consumption

Participants reported on their dietary habits, including chocolate consumption, as well as diabetes status and weight.

By the end of the study period, 18,862 people had developed diabetes. Of the 111,654 participants included in the analysis of diabetes risk according to chocolate consumption, 4,771 developed diabetes.

The results found that consuming 2 pieces of chocolate (equivalent to 23.8 grams) per day for at least 5 days/week, helps reduce the risk of diabetes by 10%. In particular, dark chocolate has the greatest effect, with a reduction of up to 21%, according to ScitechDaily.

Dark chocolate had the greatest effect, with a reduction in diabetes risk of up to 21%

Researchers also found that even eating dark chocolate just once a week reduced the risk of diabetes by 3%.

Meanwhile, milk chocolate does not reduce the risk of diabetes, but on the contrary, causes long-term weight gain - a potential factor causing diabetes.

Although dark chocolate and milk chocolate have similar calories and saturated fat content, the rich polyphenol content of dark chocolate may offset the effects of saturated fat and sugar on weight gain and diabetes, said study team member Qi Sun, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard TH Chan Medical School. This is an interesting difference worth exploring further.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghien-cuu-tu-harvard-phat-hien-loai-keo-giup-giam-nguy-co-mac-benh-tieu-duong-185241212234445477.htm