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Posted on May 01, 2012, 6 a.m.
People who consume a greater quantity and variety of fruits and vegetables may cut their risk of diabetes by up to 21%.
Eating an abundant and varied selection of fruits and vegetables has been associated with a wide variety of health benefits, most notably for cardiovascular and metabolic health. Andrew Cooper, from Addenbrooke Hospital (United Kingdom), and colleagues analyzed data involving 3,700 men and women, correlating the incidence of diabetes with fruit and vegetable intake over an 11 year period. The team found that study subjects who ate the most fruits and vegetables combined were at 21% lower risk of type-2 diabetes, as compared to those who ate the least. Additionally, a greater variety of fruits and vegetables consumed was found to further lower the incidence of diabetes. The team concludes that: "a diet characterized by a greater quantity of vegetables and a greater variety of both [fruit and vegetable] intake is associated with a reduced risk of [type-2 diabetes].”
Andrew J. Cooper, Stephen J. Sharp, Marleen A.H. Lentjes, Robert N. Luben, Kay-Tee Khaw, Nicholas J. Wareham, Nita G. Forouhi. “A Prospective Study of the Association Between Quantity and Variety of Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Incident Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care, April 3, 2012.
