Is Tea Safe for People with Diabetes?
Diabetes and green tea. While we discourage you from consuming soda, we have a very favorable opinion of tea. Not because it is a great snacking companion but because of its various health benefits as an anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory agent. Let’s look at this in a little more detail.
Types of Tea That Support Diabetes management
Before we get into the benefits of tea, let us understand a little more about the two varieties of tea. We classify teas into two types — True Tea and Herbal Tea. True Teas are derived directly from the leaves of tea plants or the Camellia Sinensis plant. Examples of true tea are pu-erh tea, and white tea, oolong tea, black tea and green tea etc. Herbal tea, as the name suggests, is derived from other herbs such as turmeric, hibiscus, jasmine, cinnamon, lemon balm, chamomile and peppermint. Thus, the tea is named after the herb they source it from. These herbs are not only rich in nutrients but are also potent anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic agents.
Of all the teas, two types of true teas that work best for diabetes management are green tea and black tea. However, if you want to get the benefits of tea, minus the caffeine, then go for any herbal tea of your choice. They are naturally caffeine-free.
How is tea beneficial for diabetes control and management?
These are some things about tea that support diabetes management:
- They contain plant compounds that are rich in anti-inflammatory properties.
- Tea defends against cellular damage.
- They have a biochemical property that can metabolize sugar better.
- Last, tea keeps the body hydrated, which balances blood sugar.
Green Tea or Black Tea? Which is better?
Two popular types of “True” tea are green tea and black tea. Both varieties are nutritious, but green tea is more beneficial for managing diabetes.
How?
Green tea is richer in polyphenols as compared to black tea. Polyphenols are compounds found in plant foods. They have antioxidants, vitamins, and other healthy agents that prevent inflammation, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
So here are a few valuable tips:
- Look out for the amount of Polyphenols while purchasing your tea.
- Try herbal teas like hibiscus, cinnamon, turmeric, lemon balm, chamomile and peppermint tea to reduce caffeine intake while managing diabetes.
- Remember, do not use sugar with your tea.
