Ingredients found in some foods, such as chocolate and red wine , can help prevent the development of diabetes , scientists say.
Their study found that people with high levels of flavonoids had lower insulin resistance and better control of blood sugar levels . These properties are known to protect the body from type 2 diabetes . Flavonoids can also be found in herbs and berries.
Researchers at the University of East Anglia are analyzing flavonoid levels in 2,000 healthy women who eat them as part of their diet, while monitoring glucose regulation , insulin resistance and other markers of inflammatory processes in the blood.
They found that two particular class of flavonoids known as flavones and anthocyanins, are associated with decreased insulin resistance, which should reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes .
Flavones are found in herbs such as parsley and thyme, as well as in some vegetables, including celery. Anthocyanins can be found in dark-colored fruits, including forest fruits, as well as in red wine.
Analyzes show that participants who take the highest amounts of anthocyanins have a reduced risk of chronic inflammation . They have been linked to a number of health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition , also found that women who ate high amounts of flavonoids in their diet had higher levels of protein , which helped regulate glucose levels . Flavones are another ingredient found in chocolate.