(NewsNation) — A recent study showed that eating one sweet fruit could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The study, funded by the National Mango Board, was conducted by researchers at the Illinois Institute of Technology and published in Nutrients this month.
Eating two cups of mangos per day resulted in significant decreases in insulin sensitivity and insulin concentrations after four weeks.
Type 2 Diabetes affects approximately 1 in 10 Americans per the CDC and involves insulin resistance; meaning the body cannot utilize insulin correctly, leaving sugar to build up in the blood.
Researchers analyzed how eating fresh mangoes, and the same caloric amount of Italian ice affected insulin sensitivity and inflammation in overweight and obese adults experiencing low-end chronic inflammation.
Forty-eight adults aged 20-60 were involved in the study.
“Our study suggests that adding fresh mangos to the diet can be a simple, enjoyable way for people who are overweight or have obesity to support better insulin function and reduce type 2 diabetes risk,” Indika Edirisinghe, PhD, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition said in a release.
These findings support previous research showing that eating mango does not lead to weight gain, and while the exact mechanism is still unknown, the role of improved antioxidant status from mango consumption may be the mediating factor on blood glucose control,” she added.