Last Updated on March 18, 2021 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD
Keeping oneself fit and healthy is a goal as well as a requirement for all. It is crucial in this modern-day and time to take care of one’s health and body to avoid excessive harm. Diabetes is one such health condition that asks for special attention and care from the individual for his/her well-being.
When we talk about keeping healthy and shifting to an accordingly healthy routine, we often think about starting our day with a cup of green tea. Green tea is said to very beneficial for health in many ways.
But is it the same for diabetics as well? We will find out today. We will be discussing …
- Is green tea good for diabetes?
- What are its benefits?
- What are its nutritional contents?
- Which green tea is best for diabetes?
And so on.
With these answers, you will understand and make better choices that suit your blood sugar conditions. We aim at helping you to combat and control diabetes.
So without further ado, let us jump straight into the topic, beginning with basic facts and information. Here we go!
What is Green Tea?
Green tea is a healthier and less processed variety of tea. The green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tree. It is considered a better tea type as it does not undergo the same excess oxidation and withering as regular oolong tea leaves.
Like other tea varieties, even green tea is a beverage that originated in China. It has spread worldwide and gained massive popularity for its mils tasting and immensely effective advantages on health.
It has also been studied and noted that tea is second among the top consumed beverages globally, after water. Green tea is a big part of this proportion of beverage consumed as well.
Tea leaves and their types depend and are differentiated based on their oxidation. Green tea is differentiated from other tea types as it is unoxidized and the most unprocessed variety.
It is often quoted that a cup of green tea a day keeps the doctor away.
Green tea has several antioxidants, anti-inflammatory qualities, and anti-carcinogens that strengthen the body and protect it. For hundreds of years, green tea has been used as a medicinal drink. Its leaves also have herbal healing properties.
Green tea is relished as a mild morning or evening beverage. It is simple to make, healthy, and also has medicinal properties.
They are commonly known to help in weight reduction due to their zero-calorie quality. We will look at more of such qualities of green tea and their impacts on the body.
But before that, let us get a clear picture of how effective green tea is for diabetes and how to get the best out of it.
Is green tea good for diabetes?
Green tea has been validated as a great addition to one’s diabetic meal plans. It is a good option to replace your everyday beverages with green tea.
It has been studied and found that green tea has blood sugar-reducing properties. The consumption of green tea has been related to the lowering of fasting blood sugar levels.
These influences on the body’s blood sugar levels can benefit the overall diabetic condition and improve health holistically.
Green tea also has an add-on effect on insulin production and its release in the body. It balances the functioning of insulin by reducing insulin resistance in the diabetic body.
Insulin plays a key role in the glucose metabolism of an individual. The imbalance and improper working of this hormone are often the cause of diabetes.
It has been scientifically proven that green tea reduces fasting insulin levels. The polyphenols found in green tea leaves are very effective in insulin management. Thus, it brings a balance and avoids any risks of heightening or lowering blood glucose levels past normal margins.
In addition to this, the presence of many antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer qualities all help keep the body protected against the internal damage caused by free radicals.
It also has benefits in lowering the risk of weight gain and obesity, common among diabetic patients. Drinking green tea is also good for heart health and for managing blood pressure.
Green tea can also help in lowering the Glycemic Index of the overall meals. Daily consumption of green tea is associated with lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the severity of diabetes.
It is a great beverage choice between meals, early in the morning, as an evening tea or coffee substitute, bedtime meal, etc.
All in all, green tea has various positive effects on the diabetic body. But there is a right and perfect way for this too. Let us have a look and find out which green tea is best for diabetes.
Which Green Tea is best for Diabetes?
Numerous brands claim to have effective green teas. Many among them are recommended for diabetics and other health patients as well.
We will have a look at some of the best green teas for diabetes.
Typhoo Green tea
The Typhoo green tea is a rich and flavorful green tea type. It is very nutritious and has many health benefits to offer. It is also available in various aromatic flavors such as jasmine, lemongrass, Moroccan Mint, etc.
It is among the best choices for anyone with a fitness goal in mind. It is also effective for weight loss and immunity-boosting.
Organic India Green tea
This is another brand that provides customers with a very pleasant tea experience. This brand claims to deliver the best natural green tea and has risen in popularity over the years.
Organic India makes green tea available in loose tea leaves as well as in tea bags. It is encouraging as a weight loss and management agent.
This brand adds several other useful herbs and flavors like basil, lemon, ginger, etc., in its green tea, enhancing the tea both flavor and nutrition-wise.
LaPlant green tea
This is a comparatively new tea brand and has been doing well among its customers. This brand supplies exotic tea with tulsi, lemon, ginger, and other flavors to enhance the taste experience and add more value to health.
You can easily buy this green tea from herbal shops or even online. They are packed efficiently and serve the health well.
Himalaya Green Tea
Himalaya has been a trustworthy brand in all aspects for decades. It is one of the best herbal and medicinal brands that guarantee a satisfactory experience and health benefits.
The Himalaya green tea is a good option for beginners who have just decided to make green tea a habit. Thus, it is strong and needs less quantity of leaves to make a perfect cup of green tea.
It is also available in a variety of different flavors. You can choose one according to your taste and liking.
Lipton Green Tea
This might be the most known and popularly used green tea brand out there. It is the most commonly available one in markets and all stores. They sell it both in loose leaves as well as tea bag forms.
Lipton uses the young tea leaves to make the best green tea and makes it pure and toxic-free. It is one of the most affordable varieties to buy.
What are the nutritional contents of Green Tea?
There are several nutrients in a cup of green tea. We will list down some common ones below in a table:
| Sl. No. | Nutrients available in Green tea in 500ml | Amount available |
| 1. | Calories | 130 |
| 2. | Total fat | 0 g |
| 3. | Total carbohydrates | 35 g |
| 4. | Vitamin C | 109 mg |
| 5. | Sodium | 33.1 mg |
| 6. | Calcium | 4.7 mg |
| 7. | Potassium | 89.9 mg |
| 8. | Phosphorus | 123 mg |
Apart from these major nutrients, green tea is filled with polyphenols, which benefit the body in various ways. It is also a reserve for plenty of different antioxidants.
Let us now see what the various advantages of these nutrients are.
What are the various benefits of drinking green tea?
Given below are the numerous reasons that will make you want to include green tea in your daily healthy routines from now.
- Green tea encourages fat burning in the body. Drinking 2 to 3 cups of green tea every day can boost your metabolism and increase the pace of fat burning. This is another reason why green tea is the perfect post or pre-workout drink.
- The antioxidants in green tea prevent the body from the internal damaging and chronic effects of free radicals and oxidative stress in the body.
- It reduces the risks of breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, etc.
- It is also beneficial in keeping the neurological functioning proper. Green tea can boost brain function and also prevent it from aging.
- Green tea is also known for reducing blood cholesterol levels. This, in turn, improves heart and cardiovascular functioning and protects against heart risks.
- Green tea is also said to be good for the skin. It helps provide hydration, treat scars and acne, reduce irritation and redness in the skin, etc.
- Regular intake of green tea in the morning can help fight oral bacteria and issues such as bad breath. It also promotes teeth strength and offers protection.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874102002179
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168822705003062
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/consumption-of-coffee-green-tea-oolong-tea-black-tea-chocolate-snacks-and-the-caffeine-content-in-relation-to-risk-of-diabetes-in-japanese-men-and-women/E262310C3485025A0D099FE04BF1BF73
- https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7326/0003-4819-144-8-200604180-00005
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0091163
- https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2013/412379/
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0091163
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/19390211.2013.790333
- https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/11/515/eaav8826?intcmp=trendmd-stm
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- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/obr.12452
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164889/
Very encouraging and giving hope.
Thank you Hadley