Slovakian researchers have reversed the symptoms of type-2 diabetes with a whole foods, plant-based diet. Pravda, the nation’s largest newspaper, featured the new findings on Wednesday.
The NFI (Natural Food Interaction) Diet first implemented clinical trials at the National Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Slovakia in January 2019.
Researchers examined thousands of food groups and examined how certain combinations can promote a faster metabolism.
The diet focuses on targeting lipids that cover insulin receptors—the main cause of insulin resistance—through combining certain foods. Trials are still ongoing—in the article, two top diabetes experts spoke to the benefits of the NFI protocol.
What is the NFI Protocol?
The NFI diet emphasizes eating whole, plant-based foods like beans, legumes, fruits, and vegetables rather than calorie restriction.
David Hickman, one of the co-founders of the NFI Diet, said that they developed the diet by “looking at the interactions of chemicals within food and what effect they have on the body.”
“From this, a diet was designed which when followed by patients placed them into remission. This is all types of type-2 diabetics and with varying stages of the disease,” he told LIVEKINDLY
“Over a short period of time typically 12-20 weeks, the consistent repeating of the process removes the tiny lipid particles from the body and reverses type-2 diabetes,” states the website.
It continues, “This is without any additional medical intervention and consistently reducing your current medication until you stop taking it completely.”
In late 2018, the organization presented Professor Martinka of the National Institute for Diabetes in Slovakia with positive results. He agreed to begin a clinical trial of 100 qualifying patients in January 2019.
Dr. Janka Lejavova, a physician who specializes in treating diabetes, told Pravda that the first patient has been without insulin for 14 months.
Other patients have lost up to 30 pounds and maintained their new weight. Additionally, they have “stabilized laboratory values” for glycemia and glycated hemoglobin.
“To this extent, and with this number of documented patients, we are the first country in the world to do this,” Dr. Lejavova said.
A 2018 research review from the University of London showed that a plant-based diet can also improve physical and mental symptoms in type-2 diabetes patients.
[editor’s note February 6, 2020: This article has been updated to reflect that the NFI protocol is a personalized plant-based diet plan, not a vegan diet.]
