Legumes, wholegrains fight diabetes
November 5, 2004
Legumes and wholegrains are being hailed as the dietary heroes of diabetes after a worldwide study confirmed a diet rich in those foods could improve the condition so much that some patients could even throw away their medication.
In a review of every trial performed on diabetes and diet over the past 30 years, New Zealand specialists found overwhelming evidence in favour of the beneficial effects of wholegrains and legumes such as peas, lentils, beans and peanuts.
"The bottom line is very simple - wholegrains and legumes are unquestionably protective against the development of type two diabetes," study leader and hormone specialist Professor Jim Mann said.
"Not only are they protective against diabetes but they also can be useful in the treatment of diabetes in terms of lowering blood sugar levels and reducing risk of heart disease."
Eating a diet rich in wholegrains and legumes would reduce the risk of developing type two diabetes by about 30 per cent, the researchers found.
It also would improve existing type one and type two diabetes by about 30 per cent.
"It does seem that the effect is independent of other factors," Prof Mann said.
"However if you add in the other factors, the most important of which are not being overweight or obese and reducing saturated fat, then I'm sure the risk is even less."
By improving management of their disease through diet, exercise and weight-loss, people with diabetes could also find they were able to cut down dramatically on medication.
"If people are on a totally inappropriate diet, their medication is adjusted based on that inappropriate diet," Prof Mann explained.
"If you then start eating appropriately there could be a substantial reduction in tablets or indeed insulin.
"Every now and then one does come across people who can stop their insulin altogether if they've got type two diabetes."
Legumes and wholegrains worked to control diabetes by promoting good control of blood sugar levels, Prof Mann said.
"The glucose in wholegrains and legumes is more slowly digested and absorbed so ... you do not get that big glucose surge after you've eaten those things," he said.
Prof Mann and colleagues hoped such overwhelming evidence would convince more doctors to educate their diabetes patients about the benefits of eating a controlled diet rich in wholegrains and legumes.
Source:http://news.ninemsn.com.au
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