Chocolate could be an unlikely new weapon in the battle against diabetes, one of Britain's fastest growing illnesses.
New research shows that eating dark chocolate reduces the risk of damaging changes in the body that can lead to the condition.
But it works only if you eat plain, dark chocolate high in disease-fighting chemicals called flavanols. Milk or white chocolate is unlikely to have the same effect.
The findings, by a group of Italian researchers, reveal that snacking regularly on the equivalent of one medium sized bar a day protects against a condition called insulin resistance.
Insulin is produced by the pancreas and has the job of helping the body's cells absorb glucose from the blood. This helps cells turn glucose into energy for muscles.
But in the very early stages of diabetes, cells become resistant to insulin and stop responding to its mechanisms. Eventually, sufferers may need to inject high doses of insulin to bring their blood sugar level down.
Source
New research shows that eating dark chocolate reduces the risk of damaging changes in the body that can lead to the condition.
But it works only if you eat plain, dark chocolate high in disease-fighting chemicals called flavanols. Milk or white chocolate is unlikely to have the same effect.
The findings, by a group of Italian researchers, reveal that snacking regularly on the equivalent of one medium sized bar a day protects against a condition called insulin resistance.
Insulin is produced by the pancreas and has the job of helping the body's cells absorb glucose from the blood. This helps cells turn glucose into energy for muscles.
But in the very early stages of diabetes, cells become resistant to insulin and stop responding to its mechanisms. Eventually, sufferers may need to inject high doses of insulin to bring their blood sugar level down.
Source
