Tea and diabetes from benefits to risks
How does tea affect diabetes?
Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, consumed by more than two thirds of the world’s population.
There are several types of tea, including real teas made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, such as black, green, and oolong teas, and herbal teas such as peppermint and chamomile.
Both real and herbal teas have been linked to various health benefits due to their powerful herbal ingredients, and research has shown that some teas have properties that are especially beneficial for people with diabetes.
Diabetes is a group of conditions that are associated with chronic high blood sugar levels, such as inadequate secretion of insulin-regulating hormone, decreased insulin sensitivity, or both.
For people with diabetes, fine-tuning your blood sugar is especially important, and choosing foods and drinks that help control healthy blood sugar is important.
Choosing low-calorie or very low-calorie drinks such as unsweetened tea instead of sugary drinks such as soft drinks and unsweetened coffee is a great way to optimize diabetes control.
In addition, some teas contain herbal ingredients that fight cell damage and reduce inflammation and blood sugar levels. Therefore, they become a good choice for people with diabetes.
Drinking unsweetened tea can also help keep your body hydrated. Water supply is essential for any process in the body, including the regulation of blood sugar.
Studies have shown that dehydration is associated with high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, which indicates the importance of regular fluid intake.
The best teas for people with diabetes
Studies have shown that some teas have anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and insulin-regulating properties that make them excellent choices for managing diabetes.
Green tea
Green tea offers many health benefits, some of which are especially beneficial for diabetes. For example, drinking green tea may reduce cell damage and inflammation and help optimize blood sugar control.
Some compounds in green tea, including epigallocatechin gallate, have been shown to increase glucose uptake into musculoskeletal cells, thus lowering blood sugar levels.
Also, studies have shown that drinking green tea in the first place may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
Note that these studies generally recommend drinking three to four cups of green tea a day to reap the benefits mentioned.