A new study is warning butter lovers that butter consumption may double the risk of diabetes. Specifically, eating two slices of buttered toast a day can put you at risk for the metabolic disorder twice as much than other factors. Scientists recommend switching to consuming Mediterranean diet ingredients instead.
More than 3,000 people and their diets were followed by the researchers. At the start the participants, were free of diabetes but at high risk of heart disease or stroke. Four and a half years later, 266 of them were diagnosed with diabetes. This was twice as likely among those who consumed higher amounts of saturated fatty acids and animal fat.
The study concludes that those who consumed just 12 grams (0.42 ounces) of butter were twice as likely to develop the disease within the next five years. However, for those who are still deciding to stick with butter, evidence also points to the saturated fatty acids and trans fats in butter as a precursor to obesity. This means that butter not only doubles the chance of getting diabetes, it also increases risks for obesity-related diseases, The Indian Express reports.
This leads the researchers to recommend eating more legumes, whole grain cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and food low in animal fat like red meat and pastries.The study also adds that there is increasing evidence suggesting the environmental benefits of plant based diets, The Telegraph reports.
"These findings emphasize the healthy benefits of a Mediterranean diet for preventing chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes", Dr Marta Guasch-Ferre, of Harvard University, says. She also stresses the importance of substituting saturated and animal fats, especially red and processed meat, for those found in vegetable sources such as olive oil and nuts. According to the Diabetes UK, it's high timepeople curb their butter consumption, and switch to Mediterranean diets rich in fruit, vegetables, fiber, and virgin oil since studies have found that they can actively control blood sugar levels of people diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2.
