🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Eating More Nuts Helps Prevent Type II Diabetes
After years of tracking 84,000 women, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that consuming more nuts or peanut butter significantly reduces the risk of developing Type II diabetes. Although the study participants were all women, researchers believe the findings may also apply to men.
The study followed women aged 34 to 59 for 16 years. At the start, none had a history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. However, about 3,200 developed Type II diabetes during the study period. Type II diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, primarily results from relative insulin deficiency or ineffective insulin utilization, typically occurring after age 35–40. It is commonly believed that high-fat foods increase risks of obesity and Type II diabetes.
The results showed that women who ate a handful of nuts five or more times per week had about a 30% lower risk of Type II diabetes compared to those who rarely or never consumed nuts. Similarly, consuming at least one large tablespoon of peanut butter five or more times weekly reduced the incidence of Type II diabetes by approximately 20%.
Researchers suggest that although nuts are considered high-fat foods, they contain mostly unsaturated fats, which beneficially affect insulin sensitivity. Additionally, nuts are rich in fiber and protein, helping maintain balanced insulin and glucose levels in the body.
However, researchers caution that this finding does not mean diabetic patients should simply eat more nuts or peanut butter. Replacing less healthy foods in the diet with nuts is a better approach. Their findings will be officially published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on the 27th.