Frequent consumption of diets rich in healthy
plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains, may protect individuals against type 2 diabetes.
This study investigated the relationship between the consumption of plant-based diets and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in US men and women. Researchers reviewed dietary and clinical data obtained from over 200,000 subjects recruited from the Nurses's Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study cohorts.
Researchers discovered that regular consumers of healthy plant foods, such as fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and vegetables, had slim chances of developing type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, high intake of unhealthy plant foods, such as refined grains, fruit juices, and sweetened beverages, was found to increase type 2 diabetes risk in this study. The results of this study support the growing body of evidence that consistent consumption of healthy plant foods may decrease type 2 diabetes in the general population.