Table 1: The benefits and disadvantages of dietary interventions for weight loss and type 2 diabetes mellitus^57–66.

Dietary intervention	Benefits	Disadvantages
Magnesium and whole grains57,58	Reduces diabetes risk Decreases blood pressure Promotes healthy bones Reduces the frequency of migraine attacks Improves exercise performance Decreases anxiety and depression Reduces inflammation and pain Eases premenstrual syndrome	Excessive magnesium can cause magnesium toxicity
Processed red meats59	Great source of protein, iron, vitamin B12, zinc	Increases diabetic risk
Green leafy vegetables60,61	Reduces diabetes risk	No significant disadvantages reported
Walnuts62	Reduces diabetes risk	Can cause weight gain
Sucrose and fructose63	Can be substituted with other sugar up to 10% for energy consumption in patients with diabetes	Increases blood glucose
Fish64	Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy Improves blood pressure Reduces blood glucose levels	Increases calorie intake; Increases risk for autoimmune diseases
Fermented dairy products (e.g. yogurt)65	Play a role in reducing obesity, lowering body weight, reducing body fat and reducing weight gain over time	Might reduce blood pressures too much
Plant oils and tropical oils66	Improves glycaemic control	May raise cholesterol levels