Study links eating blueberries, apples and pears to reduced diabetes risk
Posted March 18, 2012 1:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Eating more blueberries, apples and pears may be linked to a lower risk of diabetes, according to a new study from the U.S.
The study found the fruits are loaded with flavonoids, a natural compound that has been tied to lower risk of heart disease and cancer by other research
The findings of the study show an association between eating more fruits and a low risk for type 2 diabetes, but do not prove the fruits themselves actually prevent diabetes.
The work, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, adds support to findings from a similar study published in the same journal that found flavonoid-rich fruits were linked to a reduction in high-blood pressure.
Approximately 26 million Americans suffer from diabetes, which is caused by a defect in the body’s ability to produce or use insulin.
The latest study tracked approximately 200,000 men and women for a length of up to 24 years.
None had diabetes at the start of the study, but approximately 12,600 of the participants were diagnosed at some point during the study period.
None had diabetes at the outset, but about 12,600 of the participants were diagnosed during the research period.
The study found those participants who reported eating the most apples, blueberries and pears also had a lower risk for diabetes than those who didn’t.
