There are many factors that contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. However, there are also a few things you can do to protect yourself from it. According to new research conducted by Christian Herder and his team from the Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, Germany, people who drink tea regularly may decrease their risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
The study was conducted in 26 centers in eight different European countries and involved 12,403 people with type 2 diabetes as well as thousands of others who didn't have the disease. According to the results, those who drank four or more cups a day lowered their risk by 20 percent. Meanwhile, drinking one to three cups of tea didn't appear to have any positive effects. Researchers believe that the polyphenols present in tea are responsible for the added health benefit. They help with glucose digestion and glucose uptake as well as protect beta-cells from free-radical damage.
Tea may not always be your drink of choice, but consider it a healthy alternative to soda and other sugary drinks. Not only will you lower your risk of diabetes when you drink it, but you will also be able to cut down on the amount of sugar you normally consume in your favorite beverages.
(Photo by Intrepidation via Flickr Creative Commons)
