Green Leafy Vegetables May Reduce the Risk of Type-2 Diabetes in Women

A new study from New Orleans suggests that consuming more green leafy vegetables may lower the risk of developing type-2 diabetes in women.

Researchers at Tulane University analyzed the eating habits of 71,346 female nurses over an 18 year period.  None of the women had diabetes at the start of the study period.  Over the course of the study period, 4,529 women developed diabetes.

After correlating the eating habits of the women, the researchers concluded that an increase of one serving of green leafy vegetables per day reduced the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes by 9%.

Additionally, the researchers found that increasing consumption of whole fruits decreased diabetes risk as well.  However, increasing consumption of fruit juice was associated with an increased risk of diabetes.

Diabetes is a major health concern as it is estimated that 20 million people or 7% of the population have diabetes in the US.  This study suggests that an increase in consumption of green leafy vegetables may help reduce the incidence of type-2 diabetes in this country.

Source: Diabetes Care
Published online ahead of print
“Intake of Fruit, Vegetables, and Fruit Juices and Risk of Diabetes in Women”
Authors: L.A. Bazzano, T.Y. Li, K.J. Joshipura, F.B. Hu