Scientists surprised to discover simple, enjoyable way to lower diabetes risk
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but a tropical twist might be what you need to lower your diabetes risk.New research suggests that eating about 100 calories worth of mango per day could help lower insulin levels and boost insulin sensitivity in overweight or obese adults with chronic low-grade inflammation.“Our study suggests that adding fresh mangos to the diet can be a simple, enjoyable way for people who are overweight or have obesity to support better insulin function and reduce type 2 diabetes risk,” said Dr.Indika Edirisinghe, professor of food science and nutrition at the Illinois Institute of Technology.Obesity is a serious and expensive problem in the US, where more than 2 in 5 adults and over 1 in 6 children are obese.
An even larger portion is considered overweight, according to government estimates.As the nation’s obesity crisis has ballooned in recent years, so has the number of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.The chronic condition develops when blood sugar levels stay dangerously high, often due to insulin resistance.
In the study, researchers aimed to see if simple dietary changes could help reduce the risk of chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, which increases the chances of other serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.The team divided 48 overweight or obese adults, ages 20 to 60, into two groups.Half were told to eat two cups of mango daily, while the other group indulged in a calorie-matched treat — Italian ices, a frozen dessert similar to sorbet.Other than their mangoes or Italian ices, participants kept their usual diet and lifestyle for the four-week study period.By the end, researchers found that those eating mangoes saw “significant” reductions in insulin resistance.
They also had lower insulin levels than they did at the start of the study, while the control group saw no changes.Notably, markers of inflammation and blood sugar levels showed little difference between the two ...