Just one or two servings of whole grains per day may help reduce diabetes risk, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Researchers found that people who ate the most servings of whole grains per day (around two servings) had a 29% lower risk of diabetes than those who ate the least (around a third of a serving or less). The study also found that people who ate at least one daily serving of a particular grain such as oatmeal or brown rice were less likely to develop diabetes than those who ate less than one monthly serving of that grain.
The study was published online July 8, 2020 in the bmj.
“We know diet is one of the most important factors that determine the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” senior author Qi Sun, associate professor in the Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, said in a July 21, 2020 Everyday Health article. “Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, extra-virgin olive oil, nuts, yogurt, and other healthful foods may lead to reduced risk of developing this disease.”
Read the Everyday Health article: Eating Even a Little More Whole Grains, Fruit, and Veggies May Cut Type 2 Diabetes Risk