Flavonoids present in food and drinks like chocolate, berries, tea and red wine can help protect you against type 2 diabetes, reveal University of East Anglia (UEA) and King's College London researchers.
Inflammation, when chronic, can result in the development of type 2 diabetes. In a ground breaking discovery, University of East Anglia (UEA) and King's College London researchers found that flavonoids like anthocyanins and other compounds can help protect a person from this disease. These flavonoids are present in plenty in food and drinks like chocolate, berries, tea and red wine, according to a press statement.
"Our research looked at the benefits of eating certain sub-groups of flavanoids. We focused on flavones, which are found in herbs and vegetables such as parsley, thyme, and celery, and anthocyanins, found in berries, red grapes, wine and other red or blue-coloured fruits and vegetables," Prof Aedin Cassidy from UEA's Norwich Medical School, the research lead, said in a statement. "This is one of the first large-scale human studies to look at how these powerful bioactive compounds might reduce the risk of diabetes. Laboratory studies have shown these types of foods might modulate blood glucose regulation - affecting the risk of type 2 diabetes. But until now little has been know about how habitual intakes might affect insulin resistance, blood glucose regulation and inflammation in humans."
The study was conducted on 2,000 healthy women. They were asked to fill in a questionnaire, which estimated their total dietary flavonoid intake as well as intakes from six flavonoid subclasses. Researchers also collected blood samples for evidence of both glucose regulation and inflammation. Researchers found that those who consumed plenty of anthocyanins and flavones had lower insulin resistance. Such people were also least likely to suffer from chronic inflammation associated with diseases like diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease
Researchers have not yet found the amount of flavonoids that needs to be consumed to potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
This is not the first study that has highlighted the health benefits of dark chocolates and red wine. A 2012 study conducted by Loyola University researchers found that these two consumables have resveratrol which lowers blood sugar.
As soon as you hear the words "chocolate is good for health", an obvious question automatically pops into your head - "what about all the fat it contains?"
You'll be surprised to know that fat in chocolates is not as bad as once perceived. This fat comes from cocoa butter and is made up of equal amounts of oleic acid, stearic and palmitic acids - the latter two being forms of saturated fat. Though studies have stated that saturated fat increases the risk of heart attacks, a few studies have highlighted that stearic acid has a natural effect on cholesterol, nullifying heart attack risks. The key here is to choose the right type of chocolate. Experts recommend dark chocolates that have a cocoa content of 70 percent or higher.
It's no secret that red wine and tea have many health benefits, though a recent study highlights concerns about climate changes affecting the quality of tea cultivated, which consequently affects the potential health benefits of this beverage.
Click here to read more on how red wine can benefit you and how.
Berries reduce heart attack and obesity risks among women. It is also known to boost fertility, reduce ageing and provides protection against cancer.
Findings of the study were published in the Journal of Nutrition.
