A healthy plant-based diet linked again to a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes

A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that individuals who follow a plant-based diet have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study found that those defined as following a plant-based diet with greater adherence had a lower risk again compared to those following a plant-based diet with a lower adherence (defined as individuals who sometimes ate modest amounts of animal products).

Previous studies have found that a plant-based diet helps to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes but there had been little understanding of the science behind it. According to the researchers this current study ‘Provides the most comprehensive evidence to date for the association between adherence to healthy plant-based diets and reduced type 2 diabetes risk.’

The meta analysis included 9 studies that had previously explored the link and 307,099 participants. Those identified as having the highest adherence to a predominantly plant-based diet were found to have a 23% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those identified as having a weaker adherence to a plant-based diet. It was also found that the association was strengthened further when individuals followed a ‘healthful’ plant-based diet with a lower consumption of unhealthy plant-based foods like white starchy processed products.