Best and Worst Foods for Your Blood Sugar

What you eat (and don’t) may play a major role in your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from researchers at Tulane University and Harvard School of Public Health who tracked the eating habits of more than 71,000 women for 18 years. Here’s how to prevent the disease, based on their research. ADD: Leafy greens. For every additional serving of spinach, kale, or chard you eat, you may lessen your likelihood by as much as 9%. ADD: Whole fruit. For every three servings, you may slash your diabetes risk by up to 18%. AVOID: Juice. Consuming one serving a day may raise your odds by nearly 18%. Some varieties are rich in antioxidants, but if you’re at risk of diabetes, consider trading your daily glass of juice for whole fruit. Stephanie Breakstone, Prevention, January 2009