Leicester, U.K.—A study conducted by researchers from the University of Leicester looks at the correlation between reduced risk of type-2 diabetes and eating green leafy vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are known to reduce both cancer and heart disease, but the relationship between fruits and vegetables and type-2 diabetes has not had as much attention.

This study is a meta-analysis of six studies involving over 220,000 participants that focused on the links between fruit and vegetable consumption and type-2 diabetes. The results show that eating one-and-a-half more servings of green leafy vegetables a day reduces the risk of type-2 diabetes by 14%. This does not necessarily mean that eating more fruits and vegetables combined reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. This study focuses on the more specific sector of green leafy vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are believed to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes because of their antioxidant content. Green leafy vegetables have a high magnesium content which may help reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. However, it is still a little early for the overall conclusion that green leafy vegetables reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes.

The results of this study were published in the British Medical of Journal.
 

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, October 2010 (published ahead of print on August 28, 2010)