A diet rich in black soya beans (UK) or soybeans (US) could help control weight and even prevent diabetes. The laboratory research on rats found the beans could also lower cholesterol levels.

Four groups of 32 male rats consumed a fatty diet for 28 days. Each group was given different amounts of black soya beans, with one group receiving none and acting as a control. The rats eating 10% of their energy from black soya beans gained about half as much weight as those in the control group. Total blood cholesterol also fell by 25% and LDL levels ("bad" cholesterol) fell by 60%. Soya protein may have an effect on fat metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue, reducing synthesis of new fatty acids and cholesterol. It is this metabolic effect that may explain the traditional Asian use of black soya in the treatment of diabetes. 'The key problem in type 2 diabetes is impairment of insulin action due to excess abdominal fat tissue. Any loss of weight often improves glycaemic control.

The research is preliminary but the popularity of soya foods has been increasing over the past few years. You've got to cook something for dinner tonight. Why not give black soya beans a try? Cooks.com offers a few recipes to put your soya beans to good use. Anybody up for soya bean burgers or baked soya beans? The Diabetic soya bean cookies caught my attention. Watch-out, Betty Crocker!!

Researchers found a protein that coats the liver is directly correlated with visceral-fat induced diabetes, or type 2 diabetes.

When visceral fat accumulates, the amount of a hormone called adiponectin, decreases. Adiponectin is found in fat cells, and plays a role in glucose regulation and fatty acid metabolism. Researchers found two types of protein on the surface of mouse liver cells. When the proteins and adiponectin interact, blood sugar and neutral fat levels fall, boosting fat-burning functions. However, obese mice with accumulated visceral fat have fewer of these proteins on the surface of their liver cells. When these proteins increased in number, blood sugar levels would decline. The study hypothesizes that if the quantity of adiponectin decreases in obese people, a potential cure for type 2 diabetes may be found by increasing the proteins found on the surface of the liver.

Talk about the power of protein! We've all heard about the leaders in the pack when it comes to dropping pounds - eggs, fish, chicken, soy and whey protein. But this discovery reveals a new way to combat the bulge and reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Although these new proteins won't find accommodations in your local grocery store - perhaps Big Pharma will have a designer label to sport in the near future. You'd buy it, wouldn't you?

Realizing how influential carbohydrates can be on blood sugars, I swore myself to celibacy from baked goods long ago. However, my closed-door policy underwent peace talks after I had the pleasure of speaking with Ramsey Makar, founder of Miracle Muffins. Miracle Muffins are diabetic friendly premium muffin mixes with a plethora of wholesome goodness. Fresh baked, every time -- all you have to do is add water!

Miracle is a strong word. However, when you see the impact these muffins have on blood sugar -- you'll agree it's miraculous. Ramsey wanted to create a muffin that his diabetic mother could enjoy without the rise in her sugar. He concocted a recipe that contains generous amounts of fiber, healthy soy protein, low-glycemic sweeteners, and is very low in fat. Another fact for good measure -- the muffins fit comfortably into the diet programs of Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, LA Weight Loss, Nutra System and Zone.

I saved the best part for last -- the flavors! Each muffin is fresh-baked so you spare nothing on taste. The flavors available are: banana, blueberry, black cherry, chai spiced black tea, cinnamon green tea, chocolate black cherry and gingerbread. The muffin mixes have two versions based on the sweeteners used -- Spnenda or Xylitol. It says something profound about a product that actually helped an Olympic athlete lose weight! When you visit the Miracle Muffin site, take a peek at the You Tube video, read the mesmerizing nutrition details, and indulge yourself in the Miracle Muffin experience. You'll be a believer, too!

When Mike Adams, of NewsTarget, dropped 50 pounds of body fat using absolutely no drugs or pharmaceuticals of any kind -- he found that there are several foods and beverages that will suppress hunger pangs, without significant calories. The following list of foods are all easily accessible and worth a front-row in your fridge (or pantry).

The basic foods are quick and easy. Ready? #1 is water. Whether you prefer Poland Spring, Smart Water, or plain old tap - it should be your first line of defense in quelling hunger pangs. Drink a tall glass, and wait a few minutes. If water doesn't float your boat try a cup of chicken or vegetable broth. It will have higher sodium content but the calories are still negligible. Food #2 is a whole isle at your local grocery store: leafy greens! Fresh produce like lettuce, cabbage, and bok choy offer a tremendous nutritional advantage -- crunchy goodness without the guilt of carbs. They may not be high on the list of favorites, but chop a salad bowl full and stir fry till your hearts content. The 10 minutes of preparation might distract you from your hunger. Mikes #3 food sounds delicious! It's called instant banana pudding. You'll have to check his site for the secret recipe. It has near-zero carbs, no sugars, and is high in soy protein. The #4 food is pickles. That's right, pickles. Try not to buy pickles containing any added sugars or artificial colors. Last but not least, the appetite suppressing food #5 is apples. Eat the largest apple you can find. Sure, you'll get some calories and some carbs, but the apple will fill you up, and that might arrest your criminal cravings for more illicit foods.

Mike continues to explain why this strategy is practically failsafe. He says, "if you're crazy hungry, it's very easy to reach for some processed foods (bag of chips, for example) and start munching away until you've consumed 1,000 calories or more. And that's about half the total calories you need for the entire day! But I dare you to try to eat 1000 calories worth of apples. It's impossible." Sweet bulky fibers, leafy greens, salty pickles, refreshing water - and let's not forget the banana pudding. All these suggestions will find their way onto my next grocery list. As always, thanks for the good advice, Mike!