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Good news for chocolate lovers! Consuming a small amount of chocolate daily will cut your risk of diabetes and heart disease. According to a new research conducted by a team of researchers from the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), University of Maine, University of Australia and University of Warwick Medical School, eating chocolate may help keep body's insulin levels in check as well as curb heart diseases.

Insulin sensitivity is considered as one of the main risk factors for any cardiovascular disease. For the purpose of the study, the research team analyzed data of 1,153 people aged 18-69 years.

The participants' age, sex, education, lifestyle as well as dietary factors, including their intake of tea and coffee, was taken into account for analysis by the researchers. Coffee and tea had the same polyphenol content as chocolates, which is beneficial in decreasing cardiometabolic risk. It was found that the participants those who ate 100 grams of chocolate a day had less insulin resistance and better liver enzymes. Around 80 percent of participants ate 24.8 gram of chocolate a day on an average.

"Given the growing body of evidence, including our own study, cocoa-based products may represent an additional dietary recommendation to improve cardio-metabolic health; however, observational results need to be supported by robust trial evidence," said Saverio Stranges from UK's University of Warwick, reported Medical News Daily. "Potential applications of this knowledge include recommendations by healthcare professionals to encourage individuals to consume a wide range of phytochemical-rich foods, which can include dark chocolate in moderate amounts," added Stranges.

The study also found that participants who ate chocolate were younger, more physically active and more highly educated as compared to those who do not eat chocolate on a daily basis. "It is also possible that chocolate consumption may represent an overall marker for a cluster of favourable socio-demographic profiles, healthier lifestyle behaviours, and better health status," said Alaa Alkerwi from Luxembourg Institute of Health, reported The TeCake. 

However, the researchers concluded that more clinical trials are needed to support the findings. The study has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition.