If you have well-controlled type 2 diabetes, eating two slices of bread with tahini might be just as good for your blood vessel health right after the meal as eating bread with margarine and cheese.

What we've found so far suggests that for people with well-controlled type 2 diabetes, a meal with tahini may affect blood vessel function similarly to a meal with margarine and cheese. Our current analysis is based on a single claim supported by 46 studies, with no studies refuting this idea [1]. We looked at the available evidence and found that eating two slices of bread with tahini appears to have a comparable effect on blood vessel health immediately after the meal as eating bread with margarine and cheese — at least in people whose type 2 diabetes is well managed [1]. This means that, based on what we've reviewed so far, tahini does not seem to clearly harm or help blood vessel function more than the combination of margarine and cheese in this specific group. The evidence we've reviewed leans toward the idea that these two meals have similar short-term effects on blood vessel health [1]. However, we want to be clear: this is based on one claim backed by multiple studies. We don’t know how these foods might affect people over time, or whether results would be the same in people with less controlled diabetes or other health conditions. We also don’t have enough information to say anything about long-term heart health, overall diet quality, or how other types of meals might compare. Our analysis only focuses on what has been studied — in this case, a single comparison between tahini and margarine-plus-cheese in a specific context. Practical takeaway: If you have well-controlled type 2 diabetes, choosing tahini over margarine and cheese on your bread probably won’t make a big difference in your blood vessel function right after eating — based on what we know so far.