Get Cultured!

Soy & fruit yogurt
can help you manage
blood sugar levels.

If you have type 2 diabetes, head to the store for yogurt made from soy or enriched with fruit, say researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. These types of yogurt contain phenols and polyphenols -- chemical compounds that help moderate blood glucose levels.

"Soy yogurt and yogurt with fruit contain natural plant compounds that affect enzymes important in the digestion of sugar," says study leader Kalidas Shetty, PhD, professor of food biotechnology.

Medications that prevent a spike in blood-glucose levels often target these same enzymes -- alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase -- because the enzymes slow the body's digestion of sugars before they are absorbed by the small intestine. An important bonus: Phenol antioxidants not only block enzymes, helping prevent sugar spikes, they also provide overall cellular protection against free radicals (molecules that damage healthy cells).

"A fermented soy-based yogurt with blueberry is the absolute best," says professor Shetty. It's important, though, to check and see whether there's any added sugar in the yogurt: "Get as little as possible," he says.