Tucking into more spinach and other green leafy vegetables can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, a study published Friday by the British Medical Journal, or BMJ, said. The research wades into a controversial area, and its authors caution more investigation is needed to confirm the findings.
A team led by Patrice Carter at the University of Leicester, in central England, reviewed six studies involving 220,000 people that explored the link between fruit and vegetable consumption and Type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes.
Eating one and a half extra servings of green leafy vegetables cut the risk of diabetes by 14 percent, but eating more fruit and vegetables combined had negligible impact, they found.
Nutrition and exercise are known factors in prevention, but which foods work best and why remain disputed because so few good-quality studies have been carried out.
Carter's team suggests that green leafy vegetables are beneficial because they are high in antioxidants and magnesium, but more research is required to verify the findings.
