Does a Vegetarian Diet Reduce the Risk of Diabetes?

There are many health benefits associated with a vegetarian diet. Eliminating meat from your diet can help you eat fewer calories and grams of fat, as well as low your daily cholesterol intake. Is it possible that going on a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of diabetes? Can eliminating meat from your diet help prevent type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes?

Can a Vegetarian Diet Reduce the Risk of Diabetes?

According to the American Heart Association, studies have shown that a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of diabetes. This mostly applies to type 2 diabetes, which can easily be prevented by making the right food choices. It is also thought that gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, can also be prevented through a vegetarian diet. If you have a family history of diabetes, this is just one of the many reasons to think about going on a vegetarian diet.

Will Being a Vegetarian Always Prevent Diabetes?

To reduce the risk of diabetes by following a vegetarian diet, it is important to make healthy choices. You will not reduce your risk of diabetes by eating donuts or macaroni and cheese every day. It is important to choose healthy whole grains, a wide array of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy and limit your daily sugar intake. Healthy eating plays a more important role in diabetes prevention than a vegetarian diet alone.

Is it Possible to Prevent Diabetes and Still Eat Meat?

Let's face it: some of us simply can't give up meat, no matter how hard we try. It is absolutely possible to prevent diabetes if you wish to continue eating meat. The most important thing is to choose meats which are lower in fat, such as chicken and turkey white meat, leaner beef cuts and reduced fat ground beef. It is also important to opt for healthy fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy and limit your daily sugar intake.

Vegetarian diets have been linked to numerous health benefits. Reducing your risk of diabetes is just one great reason to think about not eating meat. To prevent diabetes, it is important for anyone - whether they eat meat or not - to make healthier choices. Although a vegetarian diet can help lower the risk of diabetes, there are some people who do eat meat who follow healthier diets than vegetarians who live off pizza or pastries.

Source:

American Heart Association, "Vegetarian Diets."