By: James Whittle
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Mutiple studies have been done on diabetes and green tea. We are mostly speaking of type 2 Diabetes here. Over and over again green tea has been demonstrated to be of profound value in regulating blood glucose and improving insulin resistance. As you may know matcha is powdered green tea that is superior to regular green tea in terms of nutritional content and catechins. A recent study from Japan concluded that matcha is more beneficial than regular green tea for diabetes and blood sugar control. Certain chemicals in matcha called catechins are responsible for many of matchas health benefits. Catechins are polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolites. They belong to the family of flavonoids. Additionally matcha contains the fiber of the entire tea leaf which contributed to it’s effectiveness as a blood sugar lowering agent.
University of Colorado researchers recently determined the amount of catechins and “epigallocatechin gallate” (EGCG) found in matcha green tea and compared it with other varieties of tea including Chinese green tea. Results indicated that the concentration of EGCG available from drinking matcha is 137 times greater than the amount of EGCG available from China Green Tips green tea, and at least three times higher than the largest literature value for other green teas. This suggests matcha could be even more beneficial than regular green tea for diabetes, high blood sugar, metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Catechins have also been shown to lower blood sugar in human subjects. Additionally, polysaccharides in green tea have been shown to lower blood sugar demonstrating the powerful benefits of green tea and matcha for diabetes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently reported that the green tea catechin “epigallocatechin gallate” (EGCG), could enhance the action of insulin. In fact, researchers have found that EGCG influences the primary way glucose is absorbed. EGCG may also help diabetics by mimicking the actions of insulin and inhibiting the liver’s production of glucose, thus lowering blood sugar.
The liver produces some glucose but the most common sugar spikes occur from the food we eat. Recent studies suggest green tea catechins may reduce the amount of glucose that passes through the intestine and into the bloodstream. This will benefits diabetics by preventing blood-sugar spikes when tea is taken with meals. Matcha is radically higher in catechins than most green tea.
Matcha green tea is one of the plants most likely responsible for the “Japanese Paradox” that explains why Japanese people remain the healthiest in the world. Many Japanese drink matcha regularly and diabetes and obesity rates are very low in Japan
Another study found that feeding green tea to rats reduced both blood glucose and insulin levels, and that catechins were very effective starch and sucrose blockers in the digestive tracts of rats. Similar results were observed in humans.
When 300 mg (about 3 cups) of green tea was given to subjects ten minutes before taking in 50 grams of starch, their glucose and insulin levels did not rise nearly as much as was expected. And this is an imporant fact, since we know that one cup of matcha green tea is equivalent to about 10 cups of regular green tea. I would suggest matcha green tea over regular green tea for diabetes, blood sugar problems or obesity. If matcha is so superior to regular green tea, it stands to reason that it would be superior in preventing the diseases green tea has been researched for:
Clinical trials reveal that the compounds in matcha green tea are beneficial for a number of reasons namely:
* Flavonoids inhibiting cancer cells
* Reduces excess skin oil (sebum) for its anti-androgenic effects
* Has shown anti-aging benefits with its high ORAC value (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity, purity test for its antioxidant effects)
* anti-inflammatory effects (arthritis, acne)
* Reduces bad cholesterols LDL and triglyceride levels
In addition to green tea’s starch-blocking effect, it may also help get rid of excess fat. Multiple studies have proven green tea effective for fat burning.
One study, reported by the UK Council on Tea, showed that people who consume green tea regularly are at a lower risk of developing Type II diabetes than those who don’t. In this study, over 17,000 participants were evaluated. The participants had no history of Type II diabetes, heart disease or cancer at the beginning of the study. The participants included both men and women, between the ages of 40 and 65.
The patients’ lifestyles were evaluated at the beginning of the study, and then again in 5 years. At the five year follow up, the study concluded that the participants who were tea or were less likely to have developed Type II diabetes during the five year period. The participants who drank 3 or more cups of tea a day showed a more significant lowering of the chances of contracting diabetes. Drinking one cup of matcha is equivalent in nutritional terms to 10 cups of regular green tea. So we can surmise that matcha would have a profound effect on blood sugar and on diabetes.
This news is extremely positive for those who have high blood glucose or diabetes. Matcha green tea is no panacea for diabetics, but it is a natural plant and superfood with no side effects, that when used regularly can have a profound influence on your overall health.
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James Whittle is a healer, a practitioner of energy medicine, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine: www.blueridgeclinic.com, a sought after speaker in alternative and complementary medicine, a writer, and the founder of two companies: for the finest organic matcha green tea in the world visit: www.living-qi.com, to learn about losing weight with Chinese medicine and controlling blood sugar and sugar cravings visit: www.tcmnutra.com
©James Whittle, All Rights Reserved, 2009.
References
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