A recent study has revealed that adopting a plant-based diet can lead to significant improvements in managing type 2 diabetes, including better glycemic control, weight loss, and improved cholesterol levels.
Published in Clinical Nutrition, the review examined nine randomized controlled trials with 664 participants. The researchers focused on assessing the impact of plant-based eating on various cardiometabolic risk factors—conditions that influence the likelihood of diabetes, heart disease, and strokes.
The findings showed that individuals who followed a plant-based diet experienced reductions in cholesterol, weight loss, and lower hemoglobin A1c levels, a key marker of diabetes risk, when compared to those who consumed meat-based diets.
The U.S. faces a diabetes crisis, with more than 100 million people affected by diabetes or prediabetes. Those with diabetes are at a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease, with a two to four times greater likelihood of dying from heart-related complications.
Dr. Hana Kahleova, M.D., Ph.D., the director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and a co-author of the study, emphasized the connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She highlighted that 60 to 70 percent of people with type 2 diabetes succumb to heart disease. Dr. Kahleova stressed the promising news that a plant-based diet could simultaneously reduce heart disease risk and help manage type 2 diabetes.
The study points to the benefits of plant-based diets for heart health due to their low levels of saturated fats and high content of fiber and phytochemicals. Furthermore, plant-based foods are naturally free from cholesterol, contributing to overall cardiovascular health.
This research adds to a growing body of evidence supporting plant-based eating for managing diabetes. Leading health organizations, including the NHS, American Diabetes Association, and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, have all endorsed plant-based diets as an effective strategy for controlling diabetes and reducing the risk of developing the disease.
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