Mediterranean diet provides substantial protection against type 2 diabetes, according to published studies.
Mediterranean meals are rich in olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish, but have very little meat, dairy, or alcohol.
Studies hint that such a diet plays a major role in cardiovascular disease, however, there are not any current studies in how this diet effects the diabetic population.
The study involved over 13,000 graduates from the University of Navarra in Spain with no history of diabetes, and were recruited between December 1999 and November 2007;each participant had their dietary habits and health were tracked.
The subjects started the study off by answering a questionnaire that was designed to gauge their overall dietary habits. The 136 questions that were given to the participants, specific questions were asked on how they cooked their foods, what types of oils they used, and dietary products they used.
The participants were then notified every two years by a questionnaire that asked each about their diet, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. From this information, researchers were able to pick up new cases of diabetes
The average follow up period turned out to be 4 years and researchers found that the subjects who stuck closely to the diet had a lower risk of diabetes. The diet was associated with an 83% relative reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.
Interestingly, those participants who stuck strictly to the diet were expected to have the highest prevalence of risk factors for diabetes such as they got older with age, a family history of diabetes, and a higher proportion of ex-smokers.
This did not happen. In fact the participants had a lower risk of diabetes which suggested that the diet might provide substantial protection.
The diet include a high intake of fiber and vegetable fat, a low intake of trans fatty acids, and a moderate intake of alcohol.
In addition, a key element of the diet is the abundant use of virgin oil for cooking, frying, spreading on bread, and dressing salads.
The authors conclude by calling for larger participants and trials to confirm their findings.
Mediterranean meals are rich in olive oil, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish, but have very little meat, dairy, or alcohol.
Studies hint that such a diet plays a major role in cardiovascular disease, however, there are not any current studies in how this diet effects the diabetic population.
The study involved over 13,000 graduates from the University of Navarra in Spain with no history of diabetes, and were recruited between December 1999 and November 2007;each participant had their dietary habits and health were tracked.
The subjects started the study off by answering a questionnaire that was designed to gauge their overall dietary habits. The 136 questions that were given to the participants, specific questions were asked on how they cooked their foods, what types of oils they used, and dietary products they used.
The participants were then notified every two years by a questionnaire that asked each about their diet, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. From this information, researchers were able to pick up new cases of diabetes
The average follow up period turned out to be 4 years and researchers found that the subjects who stuck closely to the diet had a lower risk of diabetes. The diet was associated with an 83% relative reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.
Interestingly, those participants who stuck strictly to the diet were expected to have the highest prevalence of risk factors for diabetes such as they got older with age, a family history of diabetes, and a higher proportion of ex-smokers.
This did not happen. In fact the participants had a lower risk of diabetes which suggested that the diet might provide substantial protection.
The diet include a high intake of fiber and vegetable fat, a low intake of trans fatty acids, and a moderate intake of alcohol.
In addition, a key element of the diet is the abundant use of virgin oil for cooking, frying, spreading on bread, and dressing salads.
The authors conclude by calling for larger participants and trials to confirm their findings.
About the Author:
For the past 30 years, Dr. Lorna Mistranski has researched extracts that offer the best results in diet pills. She has a free diet pillsinformation site that offers sound advice when looking for which diet solution is right for you. She also has an informative web sitethat looks at the best free diet pillstrials available and which ones to avoid.
