Chocolate is a universally enjoyed treat. Chocolate comes in many forms, some of them simple and silly—think chocolate bunnies at Easter—some of them designed for wellness—think dark chocolate infused with herbs. If you have a penchant for chocolate, the good news is that it may keep diabetes at bay.

Chocolate and Diabetes

A study from Brigham Young University (BYU) has found a compound within cocoa that has been linked to a decrease in diabetes risk. Rather than targeting diabetes directly, the compound (called an epicatechin monomer) provides both health and strength to beta cells, which are responsible for insulin creation and use. Consistent, prolonged consumption of cocoa can provide enough of these compounds to make a difference in beta cell function and, by extension, diabetes development.

Before jumping for joy and running to your nearest grocery store for a candy bar, note that the dosage required to reap benefits is significant. This means that a Snickers is not going to provide an adequate boost. Instead, you must consume chocolate with the highest amount of cocoa possible. Typically, that will require a chocolate bar with at least 70% cocoa, and not loaded with added sugar or fillers.

Health Benefits of Cocoa

That being said, adding dark chocolate to your diet has a host of other benefits. Dark chocolate contains fiber, nutrients, and antioxidants, all of which have the potential to boost your health and improve digestion. Dark chocolate has also been linked to lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure—both things that often coincide with diabetes.

A similar vein, dark chocolate has also been linked to a decreased risk of heart disease. Because many of the benefits coincide directly with conditions that often go hand in hand with diabetes, keeping dark chocolate in your pantry is a great idea for anyone with diabetes.

If your cocoa comes with a lot of sugar, try to gradually cut back on added sugars and opt for higher cocoa percentages. You can also eat chocolate with add-ins such as nuts, seeds, salt, and herbs, as these may boost the health benefits even further.

Continuing Research

Even eating dark chocolate may not be quite enough to create massive change. The research team in question acknowledged the need for further research and experimentation, hoping to develop a means of extracting the monomers to create a diabetes-specific prevention protocol.