Chocolates and Blood Sugar Levels

Anyone watching their blood glucose levels may resist the tempting aroma and the sight of a delicious piece of chocolate. Some may even have guilty feelings after indulging in a few bites because they may feel like they have done something wrong. But apart from its ‘sweet’ reputation, chocolates have a low glycemic index which means that it may not cause glucose levels to spike and crash afterwards. Aside from this, dark chocolates and cocoa are rich in flavonoids which are antioxidants that may help in the proper circulation of the blood as well as improve the sensitivity of cells to react properly to insulin and absorb glucose.

These flavonoids may also help to restore better functioning of cells which is necessary in the regulation of blood glucose levels. Several studies indicate that eating dark chocolate may lower blood pressure and at the same time improve the insulin sensitivity in healthy people. Eating about 50 grams of pure dark chocolate a day can benefit the health, protect against heart diseases and high blood pressure as well as regulate blood sugar levels. Just be careful because not all chocolates are healthy chocolates. White chocolate is not chocolate at all and milk chocolate may contain other ingredients that are not healthy. The same is true with instant chocolate mixes as they do not contain any helpful flavonoids.

For those who cannot resist temptation while they are watching the glucose levels in blood to rise, they can try enjoying chocolate in moderation minus the guilty feelings. They can sprinkle some of it on their bowl of oatmeal or other cereal. They can also nibble tiny chocolate pieces together with some cheese or use chocolates as dip for fresh fruits and vegetables. It is difficult to deny the craving for chocolates altogether as one can easily end up eating more whole bars instead of just tiny pieces. If that happens instead of becoming beneficial to persons health, chocolates may just cause blood glucose levels to sky rocket.

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