Fresh fruit and diabetes

Eating two portions of fresh fruit a day may lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as one third, a new study suggests. Researchers in Australia analyzed the diets of 7,675 people over five years. They found that those who ate at least two servings of fruit a day had higher levels of insulin sensitivity—meaning they could better control their blood sugar levels—than the people who had less than half a serving a day. When they looked at the prevalence of diabetes, they found that the people who ate at least two servings daily had a 36 percent lower chance of developing the disease. Interestingly, the researchers found no association between fruit juice intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Lead author Nicola Bondonno tells the New York Post that fruits contain phytochemicals that may increase insulin sensitivity. She notes that they are also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, “which helps regulate the release of sugar into the blood and also helps people feel fuller longer.”