REDUCE BLOOD SUGAR

28. BLUEBERRIES

A review in The BMJ found that adults who ate blueberries more than twice a week had up to a 23 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who didn’t. Evidence has linked their bioactive compounds, anthocyanins, with improved blood-sugar levels.

29. LENTILS

Because they’re so high in fibre, lentils slow the body’s process of turning carbohydrates into glucose in the blood, preventing a spike in blood-sugar levels. In fact, people eating them more than three times a week had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing diabetes type 2 according to the PREDIMED study into the benefits of a Mediterranean diet.

30. CINNAMON

High in the beneficial polyphenols, research shows that half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder (about 1g) daily for 40 days can make cells more sensitive to insulin, which helps to improve glucose control for people with type 2 diabetes.