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Preventing Diabetes One Cup At A Time
Posted by Phuong on Jun 16th, 2009

The Tea Chick
The Tea Chick


According to the American Diabetes Association, 1 in 3 children in the US face a future with diabetes.We can make a difference by changing our daily habits and our children's. Giving your body more insulin is the main treatment for type 1diabetes. However, diet and exercise are most important parts of the treatment. You should always follow your health care provider's recommendations, but here is some interesting research done on tea and diabetes.

Drinking tea can improve insulin activity up to 15 times, and it can be black, green or oolong. Herbal teas don't have any effect. Not only is green tea beneficial for type 1 diabetics but may also help to prevent against the development of type 2 diabetes as shown in a study mentioned on the Biomed Central website, "The control of postprandial hyperglycemia by green tea can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we provide evidence showing that green tea promotes glucose metabolism in healthy humans, and produces an antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic mice......" ("Effect of green tea on blood glucose levels and serum proteomic pattern in diabetic (db/db) mice and on glucose metabolism in healthy humans", Tsuneki, H et. al.)

The health benefits of tea for diabetics and in the prevention of diabetes are found primarily in a component of green tea known as EGCG according to the Life Enhancement website which also recommends other teas, "In the tea study, however, chromatographic analysis showed that the chemical compositions of the green and oolong teas were very similar, and the authors state that in both cases, EGCG was the main active ingredient in terms of the insulin effect."

In conclusion, green tea has provided many health benefits for a number of people; one of these health benefits provided by green tea is the ability to help diabetics break down glucose and lower blood glucose levels. This is due primarily to the substance known as EGCG which is found in green tea.

Green tea is already well known for its health benefits. Now black tea is also showing to have benefits. Some components in black tea, such as theaflavins and thearubigins, may be considered as insulin substitute," said Dr. Graham Rena from Dundee University.


Koni Simply Slim, Energizer Yogi, Caramel Slender Puerh, Mighty Athena, Antioxidant Junkie
Koni Simply Slim, Energizer Yogi, Caramel Slender Puerh, Mighty Athena, Antioxidant Junkie
Comments
  • Tea Says: July 6th, 2009, 11:54am First time I heard tea is best for diabetics, actually tea is a magical plant.
  • Phuong Says: June 20th, 2009, 3:25pm Denise - Thank you! Jackie - Yes, according to the American Diabetes Association, 1 in 3 children in the US face a future with diabetes. Lets look at the positive and try to help. Whether it is 1 in 3 according to the ADA or 10% as you found, the point is to make light of the problem. Your passion definitely comes through in your comment. Maybe you should take that energy and walk to fight diabetes with me on October 10th. You can also make a donation at http://www.diabetes.org/stepout.
  • Teas4me Says: June 20th, 2009, 2:10pm hmmmm, I think she's quoting the American Diabetes Association. Which, in that case, is pretty ridiculous if its true. But you needn't respond so irrationally, as she is quoting another source. So question them...not her. Bottom line, good tea is good for life.
  • Jackie Says: June 19th, 2009, 2:01pm Your opening "fact" is a complete fabrication. 1 in every 3 children? Talk about an overreaction. According to the real statistics provided by government organizations, approximately 10% of the US has diabetes. How did you come up with 33.3% instead? By using empty words like "faces a future with diabetes" you don't have to commit to what you say?
  • Denise Lukacs Says: June 18th, 2009, 2:55pm Excellent information to know! Type II Diabetes runs in my family. Now that I know how to de-caffeinate tea (thanks to your article) I can drink something other than the herbal teas. I'm so impressed with your knowledge! Thank you!!!
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