Risk for type 2 Diabetes, reduce fruit and vegetables

Regular consumption of sufficient fruit and vegetables seems to protect against the development of type 2 Diabetes. Even small amounts of fruit and vegetables contribute to such a protective effect. This shows how important a healthy diet to prevent type 2 Diabetes.

In the case of a current investigation with the participation of the internationally renowned University of Cambridge, it was found that already the consumption of small amounts of fruits and vegetables against the development of type 2 Diabetes can protect. The results were published in the English journal “BMJ”.

Data from more than 340,000 individuals were analysed

For the new study, the data of a total of 340.234 people from eight European countries were evaluated. Specifically, the Biomarker of 10,000 people were analyzed during the medical follow-up period of the study, type-2 Diabetes sufferers. These data were then compared with the data of 13,500 healthy people without Diabetes.

Five servings of fruits and vegetables of the day

Eating about five servings of fruits and vegetables per day is considered an important part of a healthy diet. Not least because of the consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with reducing the risk for health problems such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. But the role of fruit and vegetables in the prevention of type 2 Diabetes is still relatively unclear.

Weaknesses of previous research work

The previous research results on this topic are contradictory, which is partly due to the fact that most studies rely on self-reported information from the Participants to the ingested food. The current investigation showed, however, that regularly more fruits and vegetables people had to take a half at high risk to develop type 2 Diabetes, compared to persons with low fruit and vegetable consumption.

Researchers vitamin levels in the blood

Type 2 Diabetes can be prevented through a healthy diet. Therefore, the researchers wanted to find out how important the consumption of fruits and vegetables in this context. They carried out the so far largest study in the fruit and vegetable consumption associated with vitamin levels in the blood is measured. Through the study, the methodology used, errors and inaccuracies were avoided, of which previous studies were affected.

What are the biomarkers were particularly important?

In the case of the evaluated biomarkers, it was the content of Vitamin C and six different carotenoids or plant pigments in the blood. These biomarkers provide information about which fruits and vegetables takes a man in its diet, explain the researchers. From the total sum of these seven nutrient-biomarkers, a composite item was calculated number. This was then assigned to one of five categories, ranging from lowest to highest consumption.

66 grams of fruit and vegetables reduced the risk considerably

The risk for the development of type 2 Diabetes was the lower, the higher the Biomarker Score was. If part of the module the participants for the category of best 20 percent had a 50 percent lower risk of a disease, type 2 Diabetes, compared with people with a low income. The daily consumption of about 66 grams of fruit and vegetables seems to be able to the risk for type 2 Diabetes by a quarter to reduce, report the researchers

Smoking and alcohol had no influence on the protective effect

The effects of the consumption of fruit and vegetables on the risk for type 2 Diabetes were independent of factors such as age, gender, Body Mass Index, Smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and the intake of vitamin preparations, report the researchers.

This shows that a diet with more fruits and vegetables for lowering the risk of type 2 Diabetes is clearly relevant, as the research group.

How much fruit and vegetables should be consumed daily?

The German society for nutrition e. V recommends people to take five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, this corresponds to 400 g of vegetables and 250 g fruit. A protective effect of fruit and vegetables showed the new study the consumption of a single Portion, which corresponds to the amount of seven cherry tomatoes, two stalks of broccoli or a banana.

Most people eat too little fruit and vegetables

Although there is already a long time the Golden rule of five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, fruit and vegetable consumption of many people is still low. Only one out of seven people over the age of 15 years eat daily a minimum of five portions and one of the three persons is increasing every day no fruit and vegetables. The results of the current study show that small changes in diet can have large potential Benefits. It is to be hoped that this will contribute to increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. (as)

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