The Diet Change That Can Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Getting healthy can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but it doesn't have to be.

In fact, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine, you can prevent diabetes and live a healthier lifestyle with one simple change: eat at home more often.

Eating Habits and Health

This study, conducted by Qi Sun of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, determined that there was a strong link between a person's risk of type 2 diabetes and the number of meals he or she eats at home. Sun and other researchers studied the eating habits of over 99,500 people (around 58,00 women and 41,500 men) from the mid-1980s until 2010. According to their findings, “eating meals at home, particularly evening ones, led to a 15% reduced risk of diabetes.”


This link, Sun concluded, was due to the unhealthy options available at most restaurants; when people are dining out, they often don't consider their caloric intake. As a result, more and more people are taking in too much and increasing their risk for type 2 diabetes.

These results may seem like common knowledge, and Sun's findings certainly aren't new. Another study published last year found that, “Since the 1960s, the energy intake from out-of-home meals has grown from 10% of daily calories to 30%. The rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity have grown at a similar rate.”

Bringing It Home

The Harvard team's “findings suggest that the nutritional and lifestyle benefits of consuming meals prepared at home could contribute to... diabetes prevention efforts,” but how do we make sure the meals we eat at home are healthy? Thankfully, it's not as hard as you might think. By following the advice of your doctor and experimenting with the recipes you already love (or by trying some brand new recipes), eating at home can be the healthy change you've always wanted!



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