5 types of food that fight diabetes

1. TURMERIC

Good news for curry lovers: Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, may help delay or prevent the progression of diabetes, finds a new study in the journal Diabetes Care.

Researchers looked at 240 people with high blood sugar, but not high enough to warrant a diagnosis of diabetes. Half the group received a 1,500-milligram (mg) pill of curcumin extract daily, while the rest received a placebo.

After 9 months, 16.4 per cent of the placebo group developed diabetes. And the curcumin group? Not one. More research is needed to determine the long-term effects of curcumin, but these early results are promising.

In the meantime, add a hit of turmeric to your sauteed vegetables.

2. CHEESE AND YOGURT

People who consumed the most fermented dairy products-things like yogurt, cheese, and fermented milk such as kefir-had a 12 per cent reduced risk of diabetes compared to people who ate the least fermented dairy, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Researchers believe the healthy bacteria found in fermented foods may be partly to thank.

3. RED WINE

You already knew red wine was a surefire health booster, but it may be a powerful diabetes fighter as well.

A Polish review of current research finds that resveratrol, the seemingly superpowered compound found in grape skins, can help improve the function of the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin and reduce blood glucose levels.

Most of the resveratrol data are from animal studies, so further research is needed to find out how the compound functions in humans. But researchers agree that moderate consumption of red wine-that's no more than two glasses daily for men-is good for you.

Cheers to that!

4. DARK CHOCOLATE

According to a review in the British Medical Journal, those who regularly treated themselves to chocolate had a 31 per cent reduced risk of diabetes-not to mention a 37 per cent reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and a 29 per cent reduction in stroke risk-compared with infrequent chocolate eaters.

The studies looked at all kinds of chocolate, but for health-boosting effects, the dark stuff's your best bet. Past research has found dark chocolate can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce both blood pressure and insulin resistance.

To get a health boost without the calorie bomb, look for a higher percentage of cacao-the darker the chocolate, the less sugar it contains.

5. COFFEE

Your morning cup o' joe does more than just perk you up: A new report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry finds that the beverage contains compounds that inhibit a hormone that plays a role in diabetes.

Past studies have found that those who sip four or more cups of coffee daily have a 50 per cent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

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