“Sip Your Way to Better Health: The Surprising Benefits of Dark Tea for Diabetes”
Tea is a beloved beverage enjoyed worldwide, known for its health benefits. A recent study reveals an additional advantage when it comes to managing blood sugar levels.
According to a new study, daily consumption of dark tea may reduce the risk and slow the progression of type 2 diabetes in adults by enhancing blood sugar regulation. Researchers discovered that individuals who regularly consumed dark tea had a 53% lower risk of prediabetes and a 47% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, there are some nuances to consider.
Dark tea, also known as “Hei Cha” in Chinese, is a fermented tea variety originating from China. Unlike other teas like green, black, or oolong, dark tea undergoes a distinct fermentation and aging process, which can last for several months to many years. This results in a tea with a rich, complex flavor profile that often improves with age, akin to fine wine.
While black tea also undergoes full fermentation through rolling and crushing tea leaves, dark tea achieves fermentation through the use of yeast or molds. Notably, this study specifically refers to dark tea.
The study, presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (yet to be published), highlights how the fermentation process in dark tea contributes to improved blood sugar control, yielding health benefits. This positive impact is attributed to bioactive compounds released during tea fermentation, including alkaloids.
Frequent tea consumption has previously been associated with a reduced risk of various chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and specific types of cancer, particularly those affecting the oral and digestive systems. Regarding diabetes, previous studies yielded mixed results, making the mechanisms behind these benefits unclear.
Tongzhi Wu, one of the study’s co-lead authors from the University of Adelaide, explained, “The substantial health benefits of tea, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, have been reported in several studies over recent years, but the mechanisms underlying these benefits have been unclear.”
The study involved nearly 2,000 adults residing in eight provinces in China. Of these participants, 436 had diabetes, 352 had prediabetes, and 1,135 had normal glucose levels. The group included both occasional tea drinkers and individuals who exclusively consumed one type of tea. Participants provided information about their tea consumption habits.
Researchers examined the correlation between tea consumption frequency, tea type, and factors such as glucose excretion in urine, insulin resistance, and glycemic status. People with diabetes often experience increased renal glucose absorption, where their kidneys retain more glucose, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
After adjusting for variables such as age, gender, and lifestyle, the analysis indicated that daily tea consumption was associated with higher urinary glucose excretion and reduced insulin resistance, which can be beneficial for people with diabetes. Remarkably, these positive effects were more pronounced in those who consumed dark tea compared to other tea types like green or red.
While these findings are relevant, the researchers caution that, like many observational studies, they do not definitively prove that daily tea consumption directly improves blood sugar control. Instead, they suggest it likely contributes to better control. To validate their discoveries, they are currently conducting a trial to investigate the impact of dark tea on blood glucose control in people with diabetes.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Genz Flash journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.