Do you want to know another reason why eating fruits maybe beneficial to your diet? A recent study done by the Harvard School of Public Heath shows that eating fruit may decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes. Researchers gathered information from the Nurses’ Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study II, and Health Professionals Follow-up study. There were 151,209 women and 36,173 men who participated in these studies.
Participants were given questionnaires to assess diet over the course of a few years. Researchers recorded all cases of type 2 diabetes (identified through self-report). Researchers were able to compare specific fruits to the risk of diabetes. Those who consumed at least two servings of whole fruits, especially blueberries, grapes, and apples had a significant 23% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Fruit juice actually increased risk of diabetes by 21%. What components in these fruits affecting diabetes risk is not yet known and more research is needed.
Eating whole fruits is much more advantageous thank drinking fruit juice. Fruit juice often contains water and sugar with flavoring. Many of the fruits natural components are decreased when highly processed. Unprocessed whole fruits, on the other hand, contain more nutrients, have less sugar, and have many other health benefits, including a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.
