Dodging diabetes

• Bump up your magnesium
Eating a diet rich in this mineral significantly cuts your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, report Swedish researchers. Only about half of Americans get the recommended daily 320 to 420 milligrams of magnesium, but it’s easy to up your intake 2/3 cup of spinach, about 30 almonds, or a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat each delivers about 100 milligrams of the mineral, enough to lower diabetes risk by 15 percent, say the scientist.


• Go easy on selenium
Early research hinted that extra doses of this mineral might be protective, but the latest study found that selenium supplements (200 micrograms a day) not only failed to fend off diabetes, but, over time, might actually increase your risk of the disease.