Green tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, and not without cause. It has been mostly known for its antioxidants, but also for improving brain function, lowering risk of cancer, and burning fat. But did you know it could also benefit diabetes?!
Background: How I came to know green tea
To be honest with you, I have never been a big fan of green tea! Like most people, I grew up with coffee. But this week I truly discovered what may be the world’s healthiest beverage: green tea! I have to admit it did not look so enticing to me at first, but I will be honest with you, it was so refreshing and flavorful that it won my heart- giving me what I like to call the “Green Effect.”
In any case, I wanted to share with you what I found about the many advantages of green tea with respect to diabetes and beyond.
Benefits of Green Tea for Diabetes
Green tea is famous for its medicinal value. It is a composition of unfermented leaves which can be used as both beverage and medicine. Drinking green herbal tea offers an effective way of controlling sugar metabolism. One study showed that green tea improved insulin sensitivity and reduced blood glucose levels. Green tea promotes insulin production, blocks glucose absorption, and helps in managing blood sugar levels.
In 2006, a study aimed to determine the relationship between green tea, total caffeine intake and risk for self-reported type 2 diabetes among Japanese adults revealed that those who drank green tea had a 42% lower risk of developing type II diabetes. In addition, according to a systematic review of 7 studies on coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea consumption in relation to incident Type 2 diabetes mellitus among 286,701, those who drank green tea had an 18% lower risk of developing diabetes.
Controlling high blood pressure is another advantage of drinking herbal tea. Antioxidants like polyphenols in green herbal tea help control high blood pressure and in turn regulate sugar levels. Green tea is also a great choice for reducing and maintaining body weight. Studies have revealed that green herbal tea helped many diabetic patients control their body weight. According to this study, green tea has been shown to increase fat burning and boost the metabolic rate.
Last but not least, drinking green tea also promotes excretion of urine, prevents flatulence, maintains body temperature, improves heart function, decreases stress, and helps in healing wounds.
There you have it: green tea has many incredible benefits. With that said it’s time to boil some water and steep some green tea!