Type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically in nearly every country. Type 2 tends to be driven by dietary lifestyle choices. Having a diet filled with polyphenols helps the body better metabolize sugar.

“We know people with diabetes have problems metabolizing sugar,” says Suzanne Steinbaum, D.O., a cardiologist and director of women’s heart health at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “Insulin comes along to decrease sugar, but with type 2 diabetes, the body isn’t so sensitive to insulin, so blood sugar levels go up. Through a complex biochemical reaction, tea — especially green tea — helps sensitize cells so they are better able to metabolize sugar. Green tea is good for people with diabetes because it helps the metabolic system function better.”

Eating polyphenol-rich foods like brightly colored fruits and vegetables and drinking tea are great lifestyle choices for anyone to manage or prevent diabetes.

In the 2013 report in the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal, Researchers highlighted various studies that have shown the beneficial effects of green tea, not only on cardiovascular diseases, but also on obesity and type 2 diabetes. In Japan, a 33% risk reduction of developing type 2 diabetes was found in subjects consuming six or more cups of green tea daily compared to those consuming less than 1 cup per week. In Taiwan, subjects who had habitually consumed tea for more than 10 years showed lower body fat composition and smaller waist circumference. Evidences from epidemiological studies suggest the possibility of green tea being a novel strategy for treatment or prevention of obesity and diabetes.

But don’t count out black tea. Black tea has high polyphenol content and a wealth of health benefits. During the process of making black tea, which is more fully oxidized, the catechins convert to complex flavonoids known as theaflavins and thearubigens, and research has shown that theaflavins and thearubigens maintain substantial anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-hypertensive properties.

3 Teas To Drink Daily
While green tea generally offers higher levels of polyphenol, we know that not everyone likes to drink green tea. And, it’s hard to drink 6 cups of something you don’t like. Therefore, we’ve selected a lighter oxidized black tea to be on the list.

Here’s our recommendations.

1. Sencha
A proven winner when it comes to polyphenol content. This is the tea that started all the research on the health benefits of tea. Grassy and herbaceous with notable bitter notes because of the polyphenols.

2. Jasmine Yin Hao
Floral and aromatic!  Yin Hao is scented in the same way as Jasmine Pearls but an open leaf curl lets more antioxidants into the cup when brewing.

3. Darjeeling First Flush
Some of the finest black tea in the world, this tea is filled with notes of pine and mint. Our 2019 Darjeeling grows at 5000’ elevation in the Himalayan foothills and the cool climes help to stack nutrients in the leaves.

Conclusion
Most all of us know someone with diabetes or may live with the condition ourselves. Share this information with your ʻohana because the condition doubles a person’s risk for heart disease, among other life-threatening complications.