Vegetarian Diets Lower Diabetes Risk in Asian Populations

Vegetarian diets help prevent diabetes, according to a study published in Nutrition and Diabetes. Researchers assessed dietary patterns for 2,918 Taiwanese participants over five years and tracked diabetes incidence rates. Those who followed a vegetarian diet had a lower risk for developing diabetes by 35 percent, compared with nonvegetarians. Researchers observed a 53 percent reduction in risk in participants who converted to a vegetarian diet. Plant-based diets increase fiber and magnesium intake associated with improved insulin signaling via whole grains, vegetables, and soy products and eliminate saturated fat intake from meat products. The authors recommend clinicians employ plant-based diets into lifestyle interventions to combat increased risk factors associated with Western dietary patterns.