Black Tea Shows Blood Sugar Benefits

Drinking black tea may be beneficial for people with diabetes, as it appears to stimulate an insulin response and reduce blood sugar levels, according to researchers from King's College London and the University of Central Lancashire.Sixteen participants drank glucose in either water, water plus a small amount of caffeine, or water plus instant black tea.

After two hours, plasma glucose concentrations were significantly reduced in those who consumed 1 gram of tea, compared to the plain water and caffeine drinks. Drinking black tea also increased insulin levels compared with the other drinks, after 90 minutes.Tea’s protective benefits have been linked to polyphenols,

including:
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Epigallocatechin
Epicatechin gallate
Epicatechin

These compounds may offer blood sugar benefits by stimulating B-cells -- pancreatic cells responsible for insulin production -- to produce insulin in your body, according to researchers.Black tea makes up about 78 percent of the global tea market.

Sources:
Journal of the American College of Nutrition October 2007 Vol. 26, No. 5, 471-477

NutraIngredients.com October 24, 2007