A lot of people are eating more meat and less grain to try to control diabetes. Ironically, research suggests that this approach may actually increase the risk of diabetes.
For over 30 years, I’ve been helping patients reverse diabetes naturally by following the science — and the science on this point is clear.
What the Framingham Study Found
Researchers at the highly respected Framingham study found no correlation between total carbohydrate intake and insulin resistance. In other words, eating more carbohydrates overall did not predict higher insulin resistance.
Instead, they found two much more telling patterns:
- Whole grain intake was associated with 29% less risk of type 2 diabetes.
- Those who ate the most red meat had a 62% higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those who ate the least.
Why Red Meat May Raise Diabetes Risk
This may be because saturated fat, found in red meat, can cause insulin resistance — the underlying mechanism behind type 2 diabetes.
The Takeaway
To help control blood sugar, consider eating more whole grain and less red meat. In my own programs, I combine this shift with less processed food and more fiber — and diabetes is reversed.
For more tips on natural health, download the free eBook Health Secrets at peacediet.org.
About Dr. Terry Shintani, MD, JD, MPH
Dr. Terry Shintani is a Harvard-trained physician and nutritionist, named a Living Treasure of Hawai’i and recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence. He is the creator of the Peace Diet and the landmark Waianae Diet — published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and cited over 137 times — and the author of 16 books on natural health and nutrition, drawing on more than 35 years of clinical practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Learn more about Dr. Shintani’s work and recognition: NLM Native Voices
Sources:
- Framingham Heart Study — Whole Grain Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Risk
- NIH/PubMed — Red Meat Consumption and Insulin Resistance
- NIH/NIDDK — Whole Grains and Diabetes Prevention