Thursday, September 18, 2008

Would Fruit Juice Benefit Women with Type-2 Diabetes?

Eat more vegetables and fruits to stay healthy! You would probably hear this very common statement frequently. How about fruit juice, is it good for health?

A recent study published in July 2008 by Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans indicated that “women with Type-2 diabetes” should stay away from fruit juice. They should eat green leafy vegetables and whole fruits, instead, if they wish to ward off Type-2 diabetes.

The researchers found that with an additional 3 servings of whole fruit daily, or one more serving of spinach, kale or similar leafy green vegetable, the risk of developing diabetes over an 18-year-period was reduced among the 71,346 women enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study.

The decrease was only modest, so if one with many other risk factors, for example, unhealthy diet, smoking, emotional stress, overweight, etc., then this may not be able to prevent one from diabetes, the researchers added.

Diabetes is a very common disease that affects some 150 million people worldwide. A person with diabetes will have high levels of sugar in their blood. This will lead to heart disease, heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, etc. if it is not managed appropriately.

In the study, 4,529 women, who developed Type-2 diabetes, were being followed and their data on the diets were analyzed. These women were divided into 5 groups based on fruit and vegetable intake, and on fruit juice consumption.

It was found that an additional of 3 servings a day of whole fruit would reduce the risk of Type-2 diabetes by 18 percent, while a single additional serving of leafy green vegetables only cut the risk by 9 percent. When an additional daily serving of fruit juice was introduced, the likelihood of developing diabetes was increased by 18 percent. A possible reason for such an increase in risk could be the big sugar load coming in liquid form that is absorbed rapidly.

The new findings seem to be contradicting with the current national dietary guidelines in United States, which recommend using 100 percent fruit juice to replace a serving of fruit. While the findings must be replicated, the researchers still warn people who wish to replace some beverages with fruit juices as healthier options to implement with caution.

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