(10-12-10) Green leafy vegetables reduce risk of diabetes

by David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) A diet high in green leafy vegetables can reduce your risk of
Type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers from Leicester
University in the United Kingdom, and published in the British Medical Journal.

The researchers analyzed the results of six prior studies that examined the
relationship between vegetable intake and diabetes risk in a total of 220,000
adults. While there was no strong connection between general vegetable intake
and a lower risk, eating at least a serving and a half of green leafy
vegetables every day reduced diabetes risk by 14 percent.

For the purposes of the study, the category of green leafy vegetables also
included cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.

The researchers were unsure why green leafy vegetables in particular appeared
to confer such a strong protective benefit. They suggested that it might have
to do with those vegetables' high antioxidant content, or their high levels of
magnesium.

Iain Frame of Diabetes UK warned that people should not interpret the study to
mean they only need to eat green leafy vegetables and can forego other fruits
and vegetables.

"We would be concerned if focusing on certain foods detracted from the advice
to eat five portions of fruits and vegetables a day, which has benefits in
terms of reducing heart disease, stroke, some cancers and obesity as well as
type 2 diabetes."

Lead researcher Melanie Davis agreed that it is still important to get five
servings of fruits and vegetables each day, but noted that "people like very
specific health messages."

"We know that intake of fruit and vegetables is important, but this study
suggests that green leafy vegetables seem to be particularly important in terms
of preventing diabetes," she said.

To learn more about how to fight disease with a healthy diet, read the free
NaturalNews.com report "Nutrition Can Save America!" at
http://www.naturalnews.com/report_N....

Sources for this story include: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11....

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.