Green leafy vegetables appear to reduce dramatically the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, more so than vegetables and fruits generally, Reuters reports.
Eating an extra serving daily of foods like spinach, cabbage and broccoli cuts the threat by 14%, according to the study by British researchers and published in the British Medical Journal.
The data do not suggest a hard and fast link; those eating such vegetables may be expected to adhere to a healthier diet generally and be likelier to exercise regularly. But it is clear that these vegetables play a key role and deserve further study, said researcher Patrice Carter of the diabetes research unit at Leicester University in a Reuters interview.
The researchers surveyed six earlier studies examining links between diabetes and fruit and vegetable consumption. Those studies tracked subjects over periods of four to 23 years, monitoring their fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of diabetes.
There was no significant reduction in diabetes risk resulting from a higher consumption of vegetables generally, of fruits or of a combination of the two.
Green leafy vegetables’ benefit likely stem from their antioxidants, magnesium and omega 3 fatty acids.
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