Diet lacking in green vegetables could lead to need for diabetes healthcare plan

Those with a low intake of green leafy vegetables could be at greater risk of needing a healthcare plan to treat diabetes, it has been suggested.

A new study, published in the British Medical Journal, has found that those who eat more leafy greens such as spinach have a reduced risk of contracting type 2 diabetes.

Researchers reviewed six studies involving over 220,000 participants that focused on the links between fruit and vegetable consumption and the disease.

They found that eating one and a half extra servings of green leafy vegetables a day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 14 per cent.

It is believed by the authors that the high magnesium content in such vegetables may be responsible for their role in preventing the disease.

They write: "Our results support the evidence that 'foods' rather than isolated components such as antioxidants are beneficial for health … results from several supplement trials have produced disappointing results for prevention of disease."

There are an estimated 2.5 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and another 500,000 who have the condition but are unaware of it.

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