Special Edition: Blood Sugar Management
Green tea extract
Green tea and the extracts obtained from it have been linked to numerous health conditions, with glucose control just one of a long list, but how strong is the science to support such claims?
A meta-analysis of 17 randomized clinical trials published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that consuming green tea may improve blood sugar management, but the benefits may be limited to specific subgroups.
Data from a combined total of 1,133 subjects indicated that green tea consumption was associated with significantly lower blood sugar levels during fasting, and lower blood concentrations of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), a marker of long-term presence of excess glucose in the blood.
Subsequent analysis also showed that green tea consumption was associated with reduced fasting insulin levels.
In addition, a systematic review and meta-analysis update published BMJ Open concluded that consuming at least three cups of tea per day is associated with a 16% lower risk of type diabetes.
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