Vegetables may protect against type 2 diabetes

Higher consumption of vegetables could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by nearly 30%, according to a study involving over 64,000 middle-aged Chinese women.

The way in which vegetables affect glucose tolerance is not fully understood: it may be associated with the high content of antioxidants, fibre and magnesium in vegetables, or it could be their low glycaemic index. While the researchers’ findings about vegetables agree with other studies, the evidence for a link with fruit consumption is conflicting.

Source: Journal of Nutrition, March 2008