What lowers, increases diabetes risk

People like risks, even when consistently coming out on the short end, if the fact that Las Vegas casinos earned more than $8 billion in 2022 is any indication. But when it comes to your health, you want to bet on winners. And two recent studies offer you smart ways to cut your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a qualified health claim that says that eating 2 cups of yogurt a week is associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes. We think that probiotics in yogurt may be what’s helping your gut biome regulate glucose metabolism. The caveat: The Food and

Drug Administration didn’t say that this applies only to plain yogurt. We say, don’t think you can down 6 ounces of strawberry smoothie yogurt with 16 grams of added sugars (that’s 80% of daily maximum most people can handle) and still get the protective benefits. You may also reduce your Type 2 risk by taking probiotic supplements. Get more info at the iHerb.com blog: “Probiotic Benefits: Enhancing Digestive Health and Boosting the Immune System.”

A Swedish study shows that getting seven to eight hours of sleep nightly reduces your risk for Type 2 diabetes significantly — and even when people eat a healthy diet, sleeping for five hours a night over 12 years ups the risk of developing Type 2 by 16%; sleeping for only three to four hours increases your risk by 41%.

Extra tip: You can also reduce your diabetes risk by drinking filtered black coffee. Now those three smart choices are worth betting on.

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world’s leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively.