Every now and then research finds that some enjoyable eating habit is actually good for our health, as well as pleasant on the tongue.
A case in point apparently is consumption of dark chocolate. From the article
https://health.wusf.usf.edu/npr-health/2024-12-05/how-sweet-a-daily-dose-of-dark-chocolate-may-cut-your-risk-of-diabeteswe are told
"The idea that eating cocoa-rich, dark chocolate may offer health benefits is not new. Cocoa is loaded with compounds called polyphenols that have been shown to help our bodies fend off inflammation, lower blood pressure and maybe even improve our moods."
" ... people who have a habit of eating a little dark chocolate — about an ounce per day — have a 21% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, compared to people who don't consume it."
"People who ate milk chocolate, which has more sugar and less cocoa, had no reduction in diabetes risk. And ... milk chocolate eaters tended to gain weight, which contributes to the risk of diabetes. However, eating dark chocolate was not associated with weight gain."
"There's long been evidence that the compounds found in cocoa can contribute to heart health ... chocolate lovers had a lower risk of strokes and other types of cardiovascular disease." The article also notes that flavanols in the dark chocolate cause blood vessels to dilate, helping to reduce blood pressure, which helps with heart disease, and can improve insulin sensitivity, a measure in healthy people of how well a person's cells are responding to insulin
Dark chocolate also has epicatechins which are known for their antioxidant properties, ... " and foods that are high in epicatechins have benefits for obesity, for Type 2 diabetes, and for metabolic syndrome.
And finally, ... "dark chocolate seems beneficial in moderation ... (and) at about
an ounce a day, people seemed to strike the balance between getting the benefits of the dark chocolate, without the risk of over-consumption."
So it would seem that we chocolate lovers may consume a delicious dark chocolate bar with the knowledge that not only does it taste good, but it's also doing good things for us.
It's nice when taking what may be argued is the equivalent of medicine tastes so good as well!