While you can’t control certain risk factors for type 2 diabetes, you can lower your risk of developing it through dietary choices. For example, new research suggests that adding just one more serving of fruit to your diet could delay the onset of the chronic condition.
According to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology&Metabolism, individuals who eat two servings of fruit a day have a 36% lower likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume less than half a serving each day.
How could this study’s findings impact you?
As of 2018, some 34.2 million people of all ages in the U.S. (or about 10.5% of the population) had diabetes, per the CDC’s 2020 National Diabetes Statistics Report. It’s important to keep in mind that type 2 diabetes accounts for 90%-95% of all diabetes cases. An estimated 345 million people are currently at risk of developing this medical condition.
However, experts regularly say that eating a predominantly plant-based diet can help protect you from chronic disease. While some risk factors are out of your control (age, gender, and family history), others are within grasp (diet, smoking, and physical activity).
