Micronutrients & recovery
The protective association between plant-based diets and type 2 diabetes risk is strengthened when the diet emphasizes 'healthy' plant foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts) and excludes refined grains and sugars.
Not all plant-based diets are created equal. To maximize your protection against type 2 diabetes, focus on 'healthy' plant foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. Avoid relying on refined grains, starches (like white potatoes), and sugars, which are also plant-based but do not offer the same protective benefit. The stronger the focus on these healthy foods, the greater the reduction in diabetes risk.
This association was strengthened when healthy plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, were included in the definition of plant-based patterns (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.62-0.79).
Why this rating
Based on subgroup analysis of the same high-quality meta-analysis.
Source
Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Frank Qian et al. · JAMA Internal Medicine · 2019
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