Black tea may fight diabetes/wikipedia
Okay, black tea lovers, you don’t have to feel bad about not liking green tea so much. Scientists say that black tea may be used to control diabetes, according to a study just published in the Journal of Food Science.
Black tea and diabetes
Scientists studied the polysaccharide levels of green, oolong, and black teas to determine whether they could be useful in treating diabetes. Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate, including starches and cellulose (type of fiber), that are believed to benefit people who have diabetes because they help slow down the absorption of glucose (sugar).
Of the three teas, the polysaccharides in black tea had the most ability to inhibit glucose. The black tea polysaccharides also displayed the most antioxidant powers in seeking and destroying cell-damaging free radicals.
This study is not the first one to find that black tea may be helpful in the fight against diabetes. In 2005, a research article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that giving diabetic rats the equivalent of five cups of black or green tea per day reduced glucose levels and also significantly inhibited the formation of cataracts.
Other benefits of black tea
Although much of the research indicates that green tea harbors many health benefits over its black cousin, black tea has been shown to be helpful as well. Some evidence exists that drinking black tea over long periods of time may lower cholesterol levels and thus help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. A recent study in Japan (Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2008, vol. 53) indicated that black tea was useful in reducing both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in humans and also helped with weight loss.
Enjoying black tea
To find black teas in the Phoenix area, you might visit one of the following suppliers, or refer to the list of sources: Chakra4Herbs (Phoenix), Gooseberries (Phoenix), Mandala (Scottsdale), Souvia (Phoenix, Scottsdale), and alist of tearooms in Arizona.
You May Also Be Interested in the Following Articles:
“Green tea extract EGCG may help leukemia patients”
“White tea helps fight infections and cancer”
“White tea may help with weight loss”
Comments
This is a good little story about the specific health benefits proven in studies for black as contrasting with Green Tea. However, what it really says it all tea has similar health benefits, just on different levels. What does it mean for the Black Tea drinker? Maybe the luxury of an extra few cups a day to get as healthy as with other teas.
To get the most health benfits of any tea go organic it may cost a little more but its worth the extra money.
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