One in fifteen Americans have diabetes. This chronic condition is strongly linked to what we eat. That is why Wageningen scientists are studying how food can help to prevent or treat diabetes. For example, eating less processed meat( Lean meat) and more vegetables and whole grain products has a beneficial effect. This is now also included in the latest dietary advice guidelines. Do you have an idea of how food can help prevent or cure diabetes?

“There is no single optimal diet to prevent or treat diabetes. Many roads lead to Rome,” says Edith Feskens, professor at the Department of Nutrition and Health. The Diabetes Fund recently announced that more than 1.4 million Americans are expected to have diabetes in twenty years’ time. More than 1.1 million people currently have diabetes.

“We can prevent and treat type 2 diabetes with a healthy diet”

Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet can also help prevent type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes. “With adult-onset diabetes, it is possible to live and eat so healthily that you no longer need the medication,” says Feskens.

Risk Factors

What works best for a diet depends, among other things, on people’s risk factors, such as an increased hereditary risk, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or being overweight. For example, a relatively unknown diet called “DASH” appears to be beneficial for people with high blood pressure. Feskens: “It consists of a lot of vegetables and fruit, quite a bit of dairy, because they contain calcium and magnesium, and grains that contain potassium. It also contains little salt.”

Vegetables and exercise

The best advice for everyone is still: follow the Wheel of Five. So eat a lot of vegetables, fruit and dietary fiber such as in whole grains. Do not eat too much and be careful with sugar and sugary drinks, including fruit juices. In addition, it is good to ensure that you move enough. “And if you need to lose a lot of weight, for example, it can be smart to follow a diet with a low content of calories or carbohydrates for a few weeks,” adds Feskens.

Personal preferences play a decisive role, emphasizes Feskens. “People stick with nutritional advice longer if they are motivated to do so.” It is important that the advice is in line with lifestyle and personal preferences. “Many studies have shown, for example, that a Mediterranean diet with a lot of vegetables and fish and not too much meat has beneficial effects. But not everyone is equally fond of olive oil.”

Click to Watch this simple video on: How to Cure/ Manage Diabetes Without Drugs

Climate

Moreover, the healthier choice is often also the sustainable choice. For example, it is quite possible to eat vegetarian if you have diabetes. People sometimes worry about that, but they don’t have to. Research also shows that people who consume a lot of red meat — such as beef, pork or lamb — have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. The same goes for processed meats such as sausage.

Coincidentally, eating less meat is also good for the climate and the environment, says Feskens. “For some people, the consequences of their food for the climate or animal welfare can increase their motivation to follow a certain diabetes diet.”

Consistent advice

Feskens and her colleagues at Human Nutrition in Wageningen do a lot of research into the role of nutrition in diabetes. Based on the latest insights, they draw up dietary guidelines for diabetes with the American Diabetes Association. These guidelines should help healthcare professionals such as dieticians, practice nurses and diabetes nurses to provide consistent advice. “Some were trained years ago, while insights change. Sometimes a dietician recommends one and the nurse recommends another. That can be confusing for patients, so it is important that there is a clear line.”

Decision aid

The guidelines that have now been released are comprehensive and scientific. It includes the most recent studies and meta-analyses summarizing multiple studies, according to Feskens. “The guidelines are not yet very concrete. We will then also develop them into decision aids, so that we can offer dieticians a concrete handle. Researcher Iris Van Damme is continuing to work on this.”

Nutrients

Feskens started her research into nutrition and diabetes more than thirty years ago. Since then, there has been a significant shift in research. “When I started, we looked more at certain nutrients, such as saturated fat and dietary fiber. But people do not eat saturated fat but, for example, meat, which contains iron, or diary that contains calcium. The main thing is that people eat a combination of healthy products and follow a diet that ensures that they get enough nutrients every day.”

When food contains a lot of calories per gram, it increases the risk of being overweight. It is best to eat nutrient-dense, in other words, ensure that the food contains many nutrients, Feskens emphasizes. “This applies to everyone, not just diabetes prevention.”

Personalized care

Another development is that much more attention is being paid to person-oriented care, such as tailor-made advice for the dietitian. In the past, people with type 1 diabetes who had to inject insulin had to eat according to doctor’s orders. They were the same for all patients. “We also see a transition to more personal advice in this.” In addition, Feskens notes that it is not yet possible to give personal advice based on, for example, blood sugar levels or intestinal bacteria. “However, much is already known about the general prevention of diabetes,” says Feskens.

The Diabetes-Free Secret

Now you know that type 2 diabetes can be reversed and cured.

It has recently been discovered that it is possible to reverse type 2 diabetes. You can find everything you need in the supermarket.

You turn it around with one powerful method. It’s what I call “The Diabetes-Free Secret.” About this secret We have written several pages that will change your life forever. You will learn in it:

• Why You Got Type 2 Diabetes
• What mechanism can you use to reverse diabetes
• The best tips to be diabetes-free in a few weeks

Enter your best email address to get the Free E-Book, Click Here…

Greetings,

John Scott

Originally published at https://khalories.com on September 7, 2021.