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Recent research has suggested that consuming green vegetables is a great way to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the University of Leicester made the discovery by examining the results of six existing diabetes studies, and found a positive link between lower levels of diabetes and higher levels of consumption of green veg. Find out more about the newest way greens can keep you healthy, then eat that broccoli up.

How does it work?

Green vegetables contain high levels of magnesium and are rich in antioxidants. As these nutrients have been linked to lower levels of diabetes, it seems certain that more greenery in your diet can only do good things for your chances of avoiding diabetes. The fact that they contain fermentable carbohydrates is great news for glucose levels – these stimulate the production of insulin that allows the body to accept glucose safely.

Guidelines

The study demonstrated that those who ate at least one portion of green leafy vegetables each day were less likely to develop diabetes than those who ate hardly any. With the current UK guideline for fruit and vegetable consumption at five portions each day, everyone should be able to put a few leafy green vegetables on their plate at dinner time or chop some into their work lunch salad.

What to eat

Green vegetables that curb the risk of diabetes include spinach, broccoli, kale, cabbage, artichoke, asparagus, and sprouts. Getting the most out of vegetables means eating them as close to their raw state as possible, so make a salad or steam them to retain as many of those helpful nutrients as possible. Can’t stand green vegetables? You might try flavouring them with garlic – according to the study, it’s another diabetes fighter.

Tags: antioxidants, Diabetes, eating healthily