14 DAY TRIAL // Individuals who live with type 2 diabetes could highly benefit from eating fruits or soy yogurts on a regular basis, as a recent study showed that these particular types of yogurts are very beneficial in the management of the condition and may also reverse some of its symptoms. The research was carried out by a team of scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and its findings have been published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry.
Yogurts enriched with fruits, especially blueberries, or soy may curb some aspects of diabetes and help keep hypertension in check because they contain natural chemicals, which are active against the health disorders. This is why scientists recommended that diabetic people add to their usual diets more fruit or soy yogurts. "What one eats should be part of an overall approach to therapy," said Kalidas Shetty who led the University of Massachusetts study.
Researchers tested more sorts of yogurt produced by four different companies, including one sort of soy-based yogurt. The team of scientists tested the composition of yogurts in order to look for three enzymes, which play a key-role in easing diabetes symptoms: alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase and angiotensin-I converting enzyme or ACE-I. Besides testing yogurts for the enzymes, the team also looked for antioxidant and phenolic compounds contained in the particular aliment.
Overall results showed that soy-based yogurt enriched with blueberries is the richest in phenols and antioxidants, containing at the same time all the three enzymes which slow body's absorption of sugars and also help in the constriction of blood vessels. Second best was found to be plain soy yogurt, followed by plain yogurt enriched with blueberries.
Noting that an extremely large number of individuals worldwide are type 2 diabetes patients, Kalidas Shetty said that finding dietary sources which may reduce the risk or ease symptoms of the condition would be the most appropriate solution, as it would be a cost-effective 'therapy' which also reduces chances of developing other serious diseases.
The researcher stated: "The numbers of people with environment-related diseases are going through the roof. Poor communities and especially Native Americans are afflicted with type 2 diabetes more than other communities. Cost-effective dietary changes are essential for fighting this disease, and traditional diets that have a higher content of these protective antioxidants are an important part of the solution. We should be able to use diet along with other therapies, and diabetes is a disease where this especially makes sense."