Scientists from Griffin Hospital in the USA found that adding eggs to a plant-based diet may benefit people with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the body’s inability to properly use or produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
It is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 90% of all cases, and is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can lead to complications such as nerve damage, kidney damage, and cardiovascular disease.
Type 2 diabetes can often be managed through lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, but it may also require medication or insulin therapy.
A plant-based diet is often recommended for people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes as it can reduce their risk of heart disease and other related health issues.
However, a recent study has found that including eggs in a plant-based diet may improve its overall quality for people at risk of type 2 diabetes.
The team tested 35 adults at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, either because they had pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome.
The participants were assigned to two groups: one group followed a plant-based diet that included two eggs a day, while the other group followed a plant-based diet that excluded eggs.
The participants received dietary counseling from a dietitian and followed their assigned diet for six weeks.
At the end of the six weeks, the researchers examined the quality of the participants’ diets using the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015).
They found that including eggs in the plant-based diet improved the diet quality score for total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins, and fatty acids.
On the other hand, following an exclusively plant-based diet without eggs resulted in a decreased overall diet quality score.
Based on the findings, the team suggests that eggs can be a valuable addition to a plant-based diet for people at risk of type 2 diabetes.
By including eggs, the diet quality can be improved, which can help reduce the risk of developing health issues associated with diabetes.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Nutrition Association and was conducted by Valentine Y Njike et al.
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