A piece or two of dark chocolate may seem like the guilty pleasure that gets you through a long day.
But there may be nothing wrong with it, even if you indulge five times a week.
One study suggests that eating dark chocolate can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a fifth.
Researchers at Harvard University in the United States tracked the chocolate intake of more than 300,000 healthy people for an average of 25 years each.
They found that dark chocolate was associated with a lower risk of disease, while those who ate milk chocolate were more likely to gain weight. And they said eating a few pieces five times a week might be the right amount.
Chocolate contains high levels of flavanols, a compound found in fruits and vegetables, which has been shown to improve heart health and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The link between chocolate consumption and diabetes risk is “controversial” due to inconsistent results, although experts note that most previous studies did not explore the difference between types of chocolate.
These subtypes (dark, milky and white) have varying levels of cocoa, sugar and milk, which “may influence the association,” they said.
Study suggests eating dark chocolate can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than a fifth
Chocolate contains high levels of flavanols, a compound found in fruits and vegetables, which has been shown to improve heart health and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The study, published in The BMJ, used data from three long-term studies of healthcare workers.
After adjusting for lifestyle and dietary factors, those who ate a 28.3-gram serving at least five times a week were 10 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those who never or rarely sometimes they ate chocolate.
Diabetes UK estimates that 4.4 million Britons are living with a diagnosis of diabetes, while a further 1.2 million are unaware they have it.
Dr Lucy Chambers, from Diabetes UK, said: “Eating more dark chocolate may seem appealing, but while it can be enjoyed in moderation, we would not recommend it as a strategy to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.”