Brown rice lowers risk of diabetes

EATING more whole grains such as brown rice, popcorn and wholewheat pasta lowers the risk of diabetes, researchers claim.

Swapping white bread and sugary snacks for wholegrain foods cuts the odds of developing the condition.

The likelihood of Type 2 diabetes dropped significantly when high-quality carbohydrates replaced calories from other fats and proteins.

And a diet full of low-quality carbs – such as white rice, flour and bread, plus sugary foods and potatoes – was linked to an increased risk. But only when it is substituting saturated fat.

The findings come from three studies of around 200,000 health professionals in America.

Dr Kim Braun, from Erasmus University Medical Center in Holland, said: “These results highlight the importance of distinguishing between carbs from high-quality and low-quality sources when examining diabetes risk.”