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Preventing diabetes with a proper plant-based nutrition

Diabetes is a debilitating health condition of global proportions. The disease is one of the major killers in the world, and it constitutes one of the most difficult public health challenges in many countries around the world. It is estimated that 33 percent of people who are 65 and above are living with the condition. According to Dr. Neal Bernard’s Physicians Committee, diabetes if left untreated can result into more health complications such as circulatory problems, kidney failure, blindness, heart diseases, stroke, erectile dysfunction, nerve damage, low-extremity amputation among others.

But do you know that a balanced plant-based diet could help to prevent Type-2 diabetes? Studies have shown that a proper plant-based diet can help to prevent, slow down, and even reverse type 2 diabetes. Many studies have also revealed that low-fat plant-based dietscan reduce blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and accelerate the weight loss process. We are talking about type 2 diabetes because, of the two major types of diabetes, it is the one that’s manageable with a structured diet.

In 2006, a joint study conducted by the George Washington University, theUniversity of Toronto and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,investigated the health benefits of a plant-based diet consisting of unrefined, low-fat food with plenty of fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables in people with type 2 diabetes. The plant-based participants were compared to another group of participants who were on a higher-fat diet recommended by the American Diabetics Association for 22 weeks.

 

The results of the study revealed that the group who were on a plant-based diet lost approximately 13 pounds on the average while the higher-fat group experienced an average weight loss of 9 pounds. The results also show that 43 percent of the participants in the plant-based group reduced their intake of diabetes medication while 26 percent of the high-fat diet group used less diabetes medication. The study also showed that the plant-based group experienced a lower total and LDL cholesterol levels than the high-fat diet group.

Also, studies comparing the level of diabetes in places where the population eat more of a plant-based diet and those who eat a diet rich in fat and meats have shown that the incidence of diabetes in the plant-based population was rare but widespread in the population that consumed a fat-rich diet.

You may be wondering how plant-based diets prevent diabetes, but scientists have provided many suggestions to explain the process. One, plant-based diets contain a high amount of fibre, magnesium and antioxidants which have been proven to enhance insulin sensitivity in the body. Also, plant-based diets usually contain a low amount of saturated fat. Saturated fat is believed to inhibit insulin signalling in the muscle and liver cells, thereby impairing glucose uptake. Research has also shown that the microbiome of vegans produces fewer amounts of TMAO, a substance which inhibits insulin sensitivity.

If you want to prevent diabetes or slow down its progress, a proven and effective way is to stay on a proper plant-based diet. While the switch to a vegan diet might be hard at first, the benefits for your health and overall well-being will be worth the sacrifice.

http://www.pcrm.org/health/diabetes-resources/the-vegan-diet-how-to-guide-for-diabetes

https://www.riseofthevegan.com/blog/diabetes-reversal-with-plant-based-diet

https://eatplant-based.com/disarming-diabetes-with-a-plant-based-diet/

Vegan for life ♥

Vegan for life

vegan for health!