Green Leafy Vegetables Help Reduce Diabetes Risk

Whereas diets high in fruit and vegetables are known to help reduce both cancer and heart disease, but the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and diabetes has not been well elucidated.  Patrice Carter, from the University of Leicester (United Kingdom), and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of six studies involving over 220,000 participants that focused on the links between fruit and vegetable consumption and type-2 diabetes.  The team found that a greater intake of green leafy vegetables, equivalent to eating 1.5 extra servings daily, was associated with a 14% reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes.  Interestingly, the showed no significant benefits of increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruit, or fruit and vegetables combined.  The researchers conclude that: “Increasing daily intake of green leafy vegetables could significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and should be investigated further.”