The benefits of green tea are well known in the field of complementary health. A low-caffeine alternative to black tea and coffee, it is also full of antioxidants that do wonders for the ageing process. The latest benefit attributed to green tea regards its effect on metabolism. Though little publicised as yet, recent studies show that green tea can have a helpful effect on blood sugar levels and accordingly, the body’s metabolism.
When you eat a high-carbohydrate meal, you experience a rapid fluctuation in blood sugar. This is an event now recognised as a trigger for a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. However, there may be a solution to this in the discovery of naturally occurring compounds that slow down the release of glucose from carbohydrates, thereby moderating the surge of blood sugar that occurs after a meal. The key compounds to offer help in this area are chromium, essential for the correct utilisation of glucose; and resveratrol, proven to enhance insulin signalling between cells.
Recent studies involving mice show that green tea is useful for the same purpose. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in green tea, was the subject of a study conducted at Penn University. The results of the study, published in the Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Journal showed that EGCG reduced blood sugar peaks in mice. The decrease in the spike of blood sugar level was found to be about 50%; a significant moderation. Based on the amount of EGCG fed to the mice in this experiment, a human could expect to receive the same effect from one and a half cups of green tea. The action of EGCG is due to it blocking the action of alpha-amylase. Alpha-amylase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down sugars, so slowing its action automatically spreads the increase in blood sugar over a longer period of time. The decrease of this enzyme’s activity was found to be 34%, judging by results obtained from the pancreas.
This latest news about the wellness benefits of green tea will prove valuable for sufferers of diabetes or metabolic disorders. Furthermore, anyone who takes this information to heart and incorporates it into their wellbeing programme may well enable themselves to avoid the risk of devastating diseases later in life. Choose a quality green tea and regularly take a fresh brew along with starchy foods in order to protect yourself against blood glucose spikes.
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