Plus, two other nutrients that people with diabetes tend to be deficient in.
Many studies andguidelines on diabetes and dietfocus primarily on macronutrients, like carbs, fats and protein.
How Was This Study Conducted?
Photo:Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis
What Did This Study Find?
There were several findings from this review and meta-analysis:
Heres where the chicken-and-egg scenario comes in.
How Does This Apply to Real Life?
You dont have to have diabetes to be deficient in any of these nutrients.
All threevitamin D, vitamin B12 and magnesiumare commonly deficient in the general population as well.
Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, like meat, fish and dairy.
Fortified cereals, plant-based milks and nutritional yeast are plant-based sources of vitamin B12.
Our bodies manufacture vitamin D from sunlight exposure, but many things can influence this process.
Magnesium, too, is in a wide variety of foods.
For that study, they hypothesized that dark chocolates antioxidants may have offered protection.
Magnesium may have played a role, too.
Add nuts to your dark chocolate for another magnesium boost.
But for many, completely overhauling your diet all at once is too overwhelming.
For example, if you drink soda every day, swap one of your daily sodas with water.
If you need bubbles,sparkling waterwill work, too.
Add fruit slices or a splash of 100% fruit juice to your glass if you need more flavor.
And, perhaps most importantly,see to it youre hydrating.
These are also commonly deficient nutrients in the general population.
You are more likely to get the recommended daily intake of these micronutrients by eating a variety of foods.
And remembersmall steps now will lead to big changes in the long run.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.pop in 2 Diabetes.
2018;42(12):2849.
2018 Jan 13;5(1):e000668.
