Generous intake of legumes, such as beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils may help guard against type 2 diabetes.

This study evaluated the correlation between the consumption of legumes and the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers collated and analyzed data on the legume consumption rate and type 2 diabetes hazard ratio of 3349 participants with high risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The team of researchers observed that regular ingestion of large servings (3.34 servings per week) of legumes, such as beans, peas, lentils, and chickpeas cut down the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 35%. Lentils were found to exert the strongest diabetes-protective effect among all the legumes studied. The findings of this study support the growing body of evidence that diets rich in legumes may protect individuals against type 2 diabetes.