According to a recent study published in "PLOS Medicine", a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Ambikas Satija, PhD in Nutrition from Harvard University's Chen Qing School of Public Health, and colleagues Nurse Health Study (1984-2012; women, n = 69949), Nurse Health Study 2 (1991-2011; women, n (= 90239), and Data from a follow-up study of medical professionals (1986-2010; male, n = 40539) was evaluated to study the relationship between plant-based diets and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The plant-based diet index was used to assess participants Is his diet based on plants or animals.
Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, vegetable oils, tea/coffee are considered healthy vegetable foods, fruit juices, sweet drinks, refined grains, potatoes, candy/desserts are considered unhealthy vegetables; animal fats, Dairy products, eggs, fish/seafood, meat (poultry and red meat) and other animal-based foods are considered animal foods. Researchers found that the incidence of type 2 diabetes was negatively correlated with the overall plant-based diet index. After adjusting the BMI, the correlation between the two weakened, but it was still significant. A healthy plant-based diet is negatively correlated with type 2 diabetes, while an unhealthy plant-based diet is positively correlated with type 2 diabetes.
Participants with high adherence (low adherence to animal foods) had a 20% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with participants with low plant-based diet adherence. A healthy plant-based diet can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 34%, while an unhealthy plant-based diet can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 16%.
Chen Frank B. Hu, Professor of Nutritional Epidemiology at Harvard University's Chen School of Public Health, said: "Change your diet, increase the proportion of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts, and reduce animal foods, especially red meat and processed foods. The proportion of meat can significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes."