Forget about smoothies or detox juices: the trendy craze that wellness experts are head-over-heels for is none other than tea. As an Asian, my family drink tea like water (okay, not me, but my grandparents do). While Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) boasts about the health benefits of tea, I’ve always been skeptical whether there was any hard-core evidence backing it up. Now that this hot drink has successfully infiltrated America, scientists are digging into this matter to see if there is any truth behind the health claims.
Specifically, does green tea prevent diabetes or help people with diabetes?
Numerous studies have evaluated the health benefits associated with the consumption of green tea, either as a tea-drink or as a supplement. In general, green tea demonstrates anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may help with weight loss through various mechanisms. The most studied active compound found in green tea is a flavonoid called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
How green tea may benefit you
- Generate changes in the gut microbiota that may be beneficial for weight loss maintenance.
- Polyphenols found in green tea is touted to control appetite hormones, possess lipid-lowering abilities, and hinder the production of fatty acids.
- Encourages the release of postprandial insulin by the pancreas.
- Lowers A1C levels and fasting glycemia.
- Increase insulin sensitivity.
Unfortunately, most studies have been done in vitro and on animals, and “there is still no consensus regarding the effectiveness of green tea for all risk factors for T2DM [type 2 diebetes].” According to the authors of PEN Nutrition, randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of green tea on blood sugar levels are scarce and mainly found no effect. They concluded that studies yielded mixed and inconclusive results, and do not recommend green tea, regardless of the form, in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Further human trials are needed to confirm the health benefits of green tea.
Bottom Line
If you smoke, sit on the coach all day, and dine at drive-thrus for every meal, no amount of tea can save you from diabetes (or anything else for that matter). While tea is not the miracle food that will shield you from fearful diseases, it does confer potential health benefits and does not appear to pose as an evil health threat (as a drink; the same cannot be said for supplements). If you hate water like my cousin, tea (minimally sweetened) is a great alternative to sodas, juices, and other sugary drinks.
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PEN Nutrition. URL Link. Accessed November 15, 2015 (with subscription).
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