Tea and Your Health: Diabetes August 04, 2012

More than two-thirds of the adult population in the United States is overweight or obese. Because weight is a risk factor for diabetes, the US Department of Agriculture is spending significant time and money studying soaring incident rates. Can tea help address the serious health concerns of weight management and diabetes?

In 2007, the USDA shared preliminary findings that showed tea to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes. This year, researchers in London completed another study that shows similar claims. Specifically, their research cites that 4 cups or more of tea a day lowers one’s risk of diabetes by 20%. Read more about the details of the study here.

Interestingly, 3 cups or fewer a day did not lower a subject’s risk of diabetes. Our take? Don’t stop at 3 cups! As we have yet to find a study documenting harmful effects of tea consumption, we will continue to imbibe with enthusiasm.

Note: Consumers worldwide are being offered a plethora of ready-to-drink “teas” that market their ability to reduce weight. While Zhi has seen our share of success stories, we can’t claim that tea is a magic bullet. We suggest realistic expectations when confronted with such “tea-washing.” We also look forward to more studies on this important finding.