- The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fiber and healthy fats and low in sugar, is currently viewed as one of the best diets for people with type 2 diabetes.
- But a new study suggests that the negative effects of a diet rich in ultra-processed foods may outweigh the benefits of following a Mediterranean diet.
- Ultra-processed foods refer to food items that have been heavily processed and contain several food additives.
A new study suggests that people with type 2 diabetes should not be focusing only on the fiber, fat, and sugar contents of their food but reduce or eliminate ultra-processed foods from their diet.
Current advice for managing type 2 diabetes mostly focuses on eating foods high in fiber, healthy fats, and low in sugar.
Two specific diets are often recommended: the Mediterranean Diet and the DASH Diet. These diets give a lot of importance to specific food groups like whole grains, legumes (like beans and lentils), nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
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The new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that a diet rich in ultra-processed (highly processed) foods increases the risk of death for people with type 2 diabetes, regardless of adherence to the Mediterranean diet.
These findings add to the growing body of evidence that high consumption of ultra-processed foods may cause premature death.
Several studies have shown that diets rich in ultra-processed foods increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, no study has investigated the relationship between ultra-processed foods and mortality in people already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
This was the relationship that researchers at the Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Health Care (IRCCS) Neuromed in Pozzilli (Italy) set out to investigate.
The Neuromed study…
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