If you are so fond of butter and like it to be used in your daily meals, then beware! You may risk inviting diabetes.
According to a recent study, the consumption of 12 grams per day of butter was associated with a twofold higher risk of diabetes. Those eating whole-fat yogurt were associated with a lower risk.
Researchers at the Unit of Human Nutrition of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona-Spain), in collaboration with other centers from the PREDIMED Study and Harvard University, have evaluated the associations between total and subtypes of fat intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The study analyzed data from 3,349 participants in the PREDIMED Study who were free of diabetes at baseline but at high cardiovascular risk.
After 4.5 years of follow-up, 266 participants developed diabetes.
In addition, they have evaluated the relationship between food sources rich in saturated fatty acids and the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Recently, dietary guidelines for the general population have shifted towards a plant-based diet (rich in legumes, whole-grain cereals, fruits, vegetables and nuts) and low in animal-based foods (like red meat and pastries).
Increasing evidence is suggesting that plant-based diets are beneficial for health and they also have less impact on the environment.
According to the researchers, these findings emphasize the healthy benefits of a Mediterranean diet for preventing chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes, and 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.