A diet high in vitamin C may help lower a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, say researchers from Cambridge, England.
In this new study, a team of researchers followed 21,831 healthy men and women who were 40 to 75 years old for the development of type 2 diabetes. All participants provided health and lifestyle information, as well as blood samples which were used to determine vitamin C levels.
After 12 years, the researchers found that adults with the highest blood levels of vitamin C were 62 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes as compared to those with the lowest levels of this vitamin.
Blood levels of vitamin C are a good indicator of fruit and vegetable intake, say the nutrition researchers.
These findings reinforce the message that increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables can lower risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as heart disease and cancer.
To boost your intake of vitamin C, try having two pieces of fresh fruit for breakfast instead of a cereal bar.
This study was published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.
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