Diet types
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers for "diet types"
Consensus Meter
Types of Diets: An Overview of Research Findings
Dietary Factors and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention
Whole Grains and Cereal Fiber
Research has shown that increased intake of whole grains and cereal fiber is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Specifically, consuming an additional 30 grams of whole grains per day can lower the risk by 13%, while an extra 10 grams of cereal fiber per day can reduce the risk by 25%.
Red Meat and Processed Meat
Conversely, higher consumption of red meat and processed meat significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For instance, an additional 100 grams of red meat per day raises the risk by 17%, and an extra 50 grams of processed meat per day increases the risk by 37%.
Alcohol and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Moderate alcohol consumption (12-24 grams per day) is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a 26% increased risk for each additional serving per day.
Flexitarian Diets and Health Benefits
Body Weight and Metabolic Health
Flexitarian diets, which are primarily vegetarian with occasional meat or fish, have shown benefits for body weight management and metabolic health. These diets are associated with improved markers of metabolic health, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Emerging evidence suggests that flexitarian diets may also help in managing inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease, although more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Blood Type Diets: Lack of Evidence
Scientific Validation
Despite the popularity of blood type diets, there is no scientific evidence to support their purported health benefits. A systematic review found no studies that validated the health claims associated with these diets, indicating a need for rigorous research to substantiate these claims.
Low-Carbohydrate vs. Low-Fat Diets for Type 2 Diabetes
Glycemic Control
Low-carbohydrate diets have been found to offer slightly better glycemic control compared to low-fat diets in the short term. However, the difference diminishes over time, with no significant difference observed after two years.
Metabolic Markers
Low-carbohydrate diets also show small improvements in plasma glucose, triglycerides, and HDL concentrations, but these changes are of unclear clinical importance. There is little to no difference in LDL concentration, body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, or quality of life between the two diets.
Vegetarian Diets in Children
Nutritional Intake and Health Status
Vegetarian diets in children are generally associated with adequate growth and body weight within the lower reference range. These diets tend to be high in folate, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. However, there are concerns about low levels of vitamin B12 and vitamin D in some cases, highlighting the need for careful dietary planning.
Conclusion
The research on various diet types reveals significant insights into their health impacts. Whole grains and cereal fiber are beneficial for reducing type 2 diabetes risk, while red and processed meats increase it. Flexitarian diets offer metabolic and weight management benefits, and low-carbohydrate diets provide better short-term glycemic control for type 2 diabetes. However, blood type diets lack scientific validation, and vegetarian diets in children require careful nutritional planning to avoid deficiencies. Further research is essential to deepen our understanding and provide more comprehensive dietary recommendations.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic