Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet for Managing Diabetes and Weight Loss: New Study Reveals
Plant-based diets have proven to combat diabetes and weight gain, but according to a recent study, their effectiveness relies on maintaining a healthy approach Unveiling the underlying mechanisms behind these benefits is crucial
Join CNNs Eat, But Better: Mediterranean Style and discover a delightful, expert-supported eating regimen that will enhance your overall health. Our comprehensive eight-part guide provides insight into the benefits of adopting a plant-based diet, including lowered cholesterol, decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, and prevention of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, consuming whole grains, legumes, and a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables has been shown to prolong human life and contribute to the well-being of the planet.
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A new study suggests that the benefits of a plant-based diet in preventing diabetes may only be seen if the diet is healthy and avoids processed or sugary foods. The study analyzed 206 different types of foods and conducted a 12-year analysis of dietary patterns among 113,000 participants in the UK Biobank study. Participants were categorized based on their intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
Individuals in the highest 25th percentile tended to follow a plant-based diet that was low in sweets, desserts, refined grains, and sugary drinks. On the other hand, those in the lowest 25th percentile consumed a higher amount of these unhealthy plant-based foods.
The study, published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolism on Tuesday, found that individuals who consumed the most whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables, while restricting their intake of unhealthy options, reduced their risk of diabetes by 24% compared to those in the lowest percentile.
Those who consumed the healthiest diet had lower body mass index, waist circumference, improved blood sugar levels, and lower inflammatory levels. This benefit was observed even in individuals genetically predisposed to diabetes and those with other risk factors such as obesity, according to the study.
Said first author Alysha Thompson, a doctoral student at Queens University Belfast in Northern Ireland, in a statement, "These data are particularly important for those thought to be at high risk of developing type two diabetes as it demonstrates they can greatly reduce their risk by following a healthy plant-based diet."
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Two-thirds of the calories in the diets of children and teens are now coming from ultraprocessed foods. The study also found that those consuming the least healthy plant-based diet had a 37% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as larger waist circumferences and higher levels of triglycerides, a form of cholesterol.
In fact, obesity is a significant factor that increases the risk of type two diabetes among those who follow unhealthy plant-based diets, according to coauthor Tilman Kühn.
A healthy plant-based diet can protect the body from type 2 diabetes by affecting various antidiabetic mechanisms, such as blood sugar and lipid levels, and reducing body fat, according to Kühn. Additionally, research has found that the kidney and liver play a significant role in lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, as noted by coauthor AedÃn Cassidy, a professor at Queen University Belfast's Institute for Global Food Security.
Cassidy stated in a press release, "This is the first instance in which we have demonstrated that enhancements in metabolism, as well as the functioning of the liver and the kidneys due to a nutritious plant-based diet, could elucidate the diet's potential in lowering the chance of developing type two diabetes."
Some plant-based diets are healthier than others, experts say, so stick to whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies.
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According to Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and senior teaching fellow at Aston Medical School in Birmingham, UK, the study only established an association, not a direct cause and effect. However, Mellor found the findings to be "interesting." In a statement to the Science Media Centre in London, Mellor mentioned that the analysis examined aspects of liver health and other measures of inflammation to explore their potential connections to diet and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Mellor, who was not involved in the study, suggested that this opens up possibilities for future research to determine if a plant-based diet can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
