Eating Chocolate Daily Lowers the Risk of Diabetes and Heart Diseases

One of the latest benefits of eating chocolate to come to light entails prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. The study was carried out by researchers from Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the University Of Warwick Medical School, the University of South Australia and the University of Maine. The results of the study were later published in the British Journal of Nutrition.  

During the course of the study, the data of 1,153 people between the ages of 18 and 69 was collected. These people were included in the Observation of Cardiovascular Risk in Luxembourg (ORISCAV-LUX) study.

Different lifestyle elements like caffeine consumption and other dietary factors were also studied at the same time in the subjects owing to the fact that the caffeine present in tea or coffee can become the source of polyphenol, a chemical that is also responsible for the advantageous effects of chocolate. 

A Little Bit of Chocolate Is Good For Health

Amongst the study subjects, more than eighty percent were found to consume 24.8 grams of chocolate on a daily basis. Surprisingly, it was noted that people who ate chocolate daily were more active, better educated and younger as compared to people who did not. 

The researchers found that people who consumed a hundred grams of chocolate on a daily basis had low level of resistance to insulin and an improved liver profile. This amount is roughly equal to a bar of chocolate. Since insulin sensitivity is one of the known risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, it was stipulated that by enhancing insulin sensitivity, chocolate consumption helps lower the odds of heart diseases and stroke. 

The researchers suggest eating foods containing phytochemicals, dark chocolate, in particular for heart disease prevention. One of the foremost precautions that must be exercised is to differentiate between natural cocoa-based and processed chocolate because processed chocolate is packed with calories and can lead to morbid weight gain. This can be avoided through regular exercise and controlled diet. 

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According to Dr Ala'a Alkerwi, the lead researcher of the study, the consumption of chocolate may be a marker of a group of promising socio-demographic profiles, wholesome lifestyle and better health which may be responsible for the opposing relationship between insulin resistance and liver enzymes. 

The Future Potential 

According to Professor Saverio Stranges, the Scientific Director of the Department of Population Health at Luxembourg Institute of Health, this study might become the basis for using cocoa-containing products, especially chocolate, as a preventive measure for heart diseases. However, additional research to support this recommendation has to be undertaken before it can be implemented. 
This study has paved way for further research and control studies for understanding the precise mechanism by which chocolate leads to improved insulin sensitivity and improvement of the liver biomarkers. 

The study has, nonetheless, proved the beneficial effects of chocolate consumption, demonstrating that eating a little bit of chocolate daily can prevent diabetes. It can also have beneficial effects on the health of diabetics, preventing the risk of cardiovascular disorders in diabetes patients in the long run. 

Health Benefits of Eating Chocolate

Despite the fact that chocolate is loaded with calories and can lead to weight gain, a myriad of studies prove the health benefits of indulging in this dark delight. According to a survey, about 4.5 kilograms of chocolate are consumed by an American on an annual basis. 

These health benefits have been confirmed in the wake of the discovery of valuable polyphenols inside cocoa. Phenolic compounds within chocolate possess potent anti-oxidant action, making them ideal agents for combating oxidative stress and various health conditions associated with it including premature skin aging and atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque inside the blood vessels causing their lumen to narrow). 

Some of the scientifically proven benefits of eating moderate amounts of chocolate everyday include

• Lowering Of Cholesterol Levels

Eating chocolate has been associated with a reduction in the level of the harmful cholesterols, particularly the very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs) which are notorious for increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 

In one of the recent studies, the results of which were published in in The Journal of Nutrition, it was established that consumption of chocolate containing plant sterols (PS) and cocoa flavanols (CF) has significant effects on the circulating levels of VLDL cholesterol within the body. 

Therefore, consumption of chocolate can work wonders to lower the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases by preventing the deposition of cholesterol within the wall of blood vessels. 

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• Prevents Memory Deficit

Chocolate can prevent memory decline by enhancing blood flow to the areas of the brain that are involved in memory function, particularly hippocampus. These facts were established during a study done by researchers from Harvard Medical School that was led by Farzaneh A. Sorond. 

The investigators reported that through a process known as neurovascular coupling, the compounds within chocolate cause increased amount of blood to be diverted towards the brain areas that are more active. In this way, it can prevent the memory deficit associated with the Alzheimer’s disease. 

Another study published in 2014 reported that lavado, one of the cocoa extracts might reduce the nerve damage found in the patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease thereby preserving memory and other cognitive functions that decline with age. 

• Low Risk Of Cardiovascular Diseases

By preventing the narrowing of blood vessels via inhibition of plaque deposition, chocolate helps reduce the odds of developing cardiovascular diseases like heart attack. 

In one of the studies carried out in 2015, the results of which were subsequently published in the journal Heart, a follow-up of 25,000 men and women was done and it was demonstrated that people who ate an average of 100 grams of chocolate everyday were less likely to have heart problems. 

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• Decreased Stroke Risk

 During one of the studies carried out on 44,489 Canadian people, it was found that people who ate chocolate daily were 22 times less likely to develop stroke. Among the study subjects with previous history of stroke who consumed chocolate on a daily basis, there was found a 46% less risk of stroke recurrence. 

With a wide range of health benefits, consumption of chocolate in low quantities is now regarded as an important preventive measure for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and stroke.