by FFE Health News Staff

British study unlocks the finer points of these ‘unhealthy’ foods.

Chocolates and wine… these types of foods are often thought to be bad for our health. But a new research supports the idea that these foods just might have good effects on the body.

A British research published in the Journal of Nutrition revealed that ingredients found in chocolates, berries and tea can help boost defences against diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Data on blood sugar (glucose) regulation, inflammation and insulin resistance were taken from 2,000 women who consumed food with high levels of flavonoid sub-groups. Study lead Aedin Cassidy of the University of East Anglia in England said they 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-colored fruits and vegetables.’

They found out that eating food rich in flavones and anthocyanins was linked to lower insulin resistance, better blood regulation and lower levels of inflammation.

Cassidy said ‘This is one of the first large-scale human studies to look at how these powerful bioactive compounds might reduce the risk of diabetes.’ But more research needs to be done to know exactly how much of these substances are needed to reduce diabetes risk.

Study co-author Tim Spector of King’s College London said ‘This is an exciting finding that shows that some components of foods that we consider unhealthy like chocolate or wine may contain some beneficial substances.’