Daily Consumption of Dark Tea May Reduce Diabetes Risk
Tea is a popular beverage enjoyed by people around the world for its soothing properties and potential health benefits. While previous research has focused on tea’s impact on well-being and cognitive functions, a new study has found that daily consumption of dark tea may help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide, Australia, and Southeast University, China, conducted a study involving 1,923 adults aged between 20 and 80 from eight Chinese provinces. The participants included individuals with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and normal blood sugar levels.
The study examined the frequency and type of tea consumed by the participants, and then determined the association between tea consumption and various parameters related to blood sugar management, such as glucose excretion, insulin resistance, and glycaemic status.
The findings of the study revealed that habitual tea drinking, particularly dark tea, was associated with improved blood sugar control. Daily tea consumption was linked to a 15% reduction in the risk of pre-diabetes and a 28% reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of the type of tea consumed.
When it came to dark tea specifically, the risk reduction was even more significant, with a 53% decrease in the risk of pre-diabetes and a 47% decrease in the risk of type 2 diabetes.
The researchers believe that the fermentation process involved in the production of dark tea, such as pu’er cha, as well as the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, contribute to its potential health benefits in relation to blood sugar management.
Notably, this study is not the only one to highlight the positive effects of tea on health. A previous study conducted by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that regular consumption of black tea was associated with a lower risk of death from all causes in participants from the United Kingdom.
The researchers discovered that individuals who drank two or more cups of black tea per day were 9% to 13% less likely to die compared to those who did not consume tea at all. These associations held true regardless of other factors such as coffee consumption, addition of milk or sugar to tea, preferred tea temperature, or genetic variations related to caffeine metabolism.
Overall, these findings suggest that tea, including dark tea, can be a part of a healthy diet and potentially help reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Tea contains beneficial compounds that may improve blood sugar management and positively impact overall health.
Therefore, incorporating a daily habit of consuming dark tea could be a simple and enjoyable step towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risk of diabetes.
