Veggies Cut Diabetes Risk 24 Percent

Eating one cup of veggies per day as part of a healthy diet is now proven to reduce the risk of diabetes by 24 percent. Vegetables contain fiber as well as numerous plant nutrients that are protective to health and help maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Australian researchers tracked 2,000 people for 10 years and found that vegetables--legumes in particular, such as beans, lentils, chickpeas--were superior to fruit or whole grains in terms of reducing diabetes risk.

The junk food industry and poor parenting have addicted a population to excessive desire for the tastes of sweet, salt, and fat – making veggies unappealing to many. Teaching children to eat a variety of vegetables is one of the most important things a parent must do.

Eating more fresh vegetables also helps weight loss, partly because it helps establish more normal desires for food based on taste. This helps people eat less food that is weight promoting, which in turn reduces the risk for diabetes.