What Is Green Tea?

Tea is an ancient beverage that has been providing health benefits to people for thousands of years. There are three main types of tea, which are called green, black, and oolong. All three of these teas are made from the leaves of the tree Camellia sinensis, and the only differences how refined they are. Green tea is the least processed form, and as a result it is also the kind with the greatest health benefits.

Green Tea and Diabetes: Blood Sugar

Green tea has long been used as a homeopathic remedy for diabetes, and modern research is suggesting that this traditional remedy may actually have considerable health benefits for diabetics. Green tea is extremely rich in antioxidants, which are nutrients and enzymes that help repair the negative effect of free radicals on the body. It contains a particularly large amount of the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is credited with providing most of the health benefits of green tea for diabetes.

Studies suggest that the antioxidants and other components of green tea may have a positive effect on type 2 diabetes. A 2004 study published in BMC Pharmacology showed that drinking green tea may increase people's ability to absorb glucose. The University of Maryland Medical Center also notes that non-human studies have suggested that drinking green tea may prevent or slow the progress of type 1 diabetes.

The exact reason drinking green tea for diabetes is advantageous isn't completely clear. However, doctors speculate it may be because EGCG causes the liver to produce less glucose than normal.

Green Tea and Diabetes: Additional Health Benefits

Green tea has been studied extensively, and it appears this beverage may offer more health benefits than just lowering blood sugar. Here are a few health effects of green tea that are currently being studied, and which may be of interest to diabetics:

• Cancer: The anti-cancer properties of green tea have been under investigation for some time, and the results appear to be strong. The antioxidants in green tea appear to cause cancer cells to die like normal cells, rather than continuing to expand rapidly. However, despite the promise of several studies, researchers caution that further, in-depth studies are needed before conclusively stating that green tea can help fight cancer.
• Blood Pressure: Many people with diabetes also suffer from high blood pressure, so it's encouraging that green tea shows signs of potentially lowering blood pressure. A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that regular green tea drinkers can significant reduce their risk of experiencing elevated blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular Disease: Several Japanese studies have suggested that green tea can help reduce cardiovascular disease, which is a major problem for many people with diabetes. Researchers speculate that green tea lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the amount of free radicals in the arteries.

Drinking Green Tea for Diabetes

Many of the suspected health benefits of green tea require further study before being conclusively accepted. Yet if you have a choice between drinking green tea and virtually anything else, chances are green tea will be better for you. That makes green tea a great choice for people with diabetes trying to avoid sugary drinks and other unhealthy beverages.

If you're considering adding green tea to your diet, look for high quality, minimally processed teas that will give you the most health benefits. If you dislike the taste of tea, you can also consider green tea tablets. However, because green tea is a herb like any other, check with your physician before drinking it too frequently, just in case it interacts poorly with any of your medications.