Switching to a Plant-Based Diet Could Help Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Says New Study
Switching to a Plant-Based Diet Could Help Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Says New Study
A plant-based diet has been linked to numerous health benefits, including lowering your risk of heart disease, cancer, and depression, among others. Now, a new study published in JAMA found eating all those veggies can also make a big difference in fighting off diabetes.
The systematic review and meta-analysis—which included more than 300,000 people from nine different studies—looked into the link between plant-based eating styles (including vegan and vegetarian diets) and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
“Not surprisingly, the researchers found that diets rich in plant foods—and low or absent in animal foods—were linked to significantly lower rates of type 2 diabetes,” explains internal medicine physician Michelle McMacken, MD, in an Instagram post. “The benefits were even greater (30% reduction in risk) for plant-based diets emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, rather than refined grains and added sugars.”
It’s clear filling your plate with plants makes a huge difference in how healthy you are. But how exactly does a plant-based diet lower your risk of diabetes in particular? Thanks to “higher fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fats, and reduced inflammation, less heme iron, and saturated fats,” says Dr. McMacken.
“This study adds to what we already know from a wealth of scientific literature,” she continues. “Eating more plants, fewer animal foods, and fewer highly-processed foods is a great recipe for the health of our species, as well as other species and the planet as a whole. What’s not to love?”
