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Did you know that type 2 diabetes can be prevented in many people? While genes you inherit will influence whether or not you are going to be prone to diabetes, your diet and nutrition are considered direct causes. Therefore, behavioral and lifestyle factors are the main cause. In fact, type 2 diabetes can be attributed to four such factors: excess weight, lack of exercise, a less-than-healthy diet, and smoking.

Making a few changes can dramatically lower the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The same changes can also lower the chances of developing heart disease and some cancers. So, let's take a look at a few of these changes.

First and foremost you should control your weight. Excess weight is the single highest cause of type 2 diabetes. So, take a look at your diet, and make sure the foods you are eating are providing you with all the essential nutrient, minerals, vitamins, etc., that you need so that your body does not feel like it is being starved and store excess fat. A great way to get all of the important nutrients you need is to eat a diet high in raw fruits and vegetables, or to supplement the gaps in your diet with products that contain all of the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs to function properly. One such product that is a great all natural source for all 8 essential amino acids, plus 10 more, most of the minerals you need, such as calcium, potassium, iron etc, and all the vitamins you need is Zija-a nutritional beverage made from the incredible Moringa oleifera tree.

If you can eat properly and fill in the gaps in your current diet, either with nutrient rich foods, or a convenient supplement, your body will let go of excess weight faster, and keep you at an optimal weight.

The second thing you should do is get physical. Your body should be active several times throughout the day. Inactivity promotes type 2 diabetes. How? Well, being active decreases your chances for type 2 diabetes because working your muscles more often and making them work harder improves their ability to use insulin and absorb glucose. This puts less stress on your insulin-making cells. You do not have to get into a full-on exercise regime, but increasing your amount of exercise and movement daily is important, so get up and go for a brisk walk. This is not to say that more intense exercise would not do some good. However, just small amounts of exercise have a variety of other benefits as well warding off type 2 diabetes. And even greater cardiovascular and other benefits can be attained by more, and more intense, exercise.

If you struggle with finding energy to get out there and exercise, this too can be linked to your diet, so work on making your diet a more lifestyle-sustainable diet. There are two simple dietary changes you can easily implement that will have a big impact on the risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as how your body feels.

The first thing you can do is choose whole grains and whole-grain products over highly processed carbohydrates. For example, white bread, white rice, mashed potatoes, donuts, bagels, and many breakfast cereals have what's called a high glycemic index. That means they cause sustained spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels. Carbohydrates that aren't as easily digested cause lower, slower increases in blood sugar and insulin. As a result, they stress the body's insulin-making cells less, and help prevent type 2 diabetes. So switch from high glycemic foods to those foods that have a low glycemic index. Examples include whole wheat, brown rice, other whole grains, most beans and nuts, and whole grain breakfast cereals.

The second thing you can do is to meet your body's daily vitamin, mineral, and nutrient needs through the foods you intake. This can be done by consuming a variety of fruits, plants, legumes, nuts and seeds. For the best results, try and find plants whose minerals and vitamins are highly bioavailable, such as the Moringa leaves or the Moringa oleifera tree.

Last but not least, if you smoke, try to quit. Add type 2 diabetes to the long list of health problems linked with smoking. Smokers are 50% to 90% more likely to develop diabetes than nonsmokers, so if you are concerned with developing type 2 diabetes, cut smoking out of your daily routine.

Diabetes prevention does not have to be difficult, so take these simple steps of diet improvement and supplementation, and getting more physically active, and look forward to a better, healthier life.