Daily cup of tea slashes risk of common 'silent killer' disease, study claims

02 October 2023 , 22:00

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There are links between tea consumption and wellness (file image) (Image: Getty Images)

A daily cuppa could slash the risk of getting the most common form of diabetes, a study has indicated.

Tea drinkers reduced their chances of developing type 2 by at least 28 per cent and cut the risk of developing prediabetes by 15 per cent. The hot beverage is said to increase urine glucose excretion, improving insulin resistance and, therefore, control of blood sugar.

A weakness in the Chinese study was that most drank a healthier “dark tea”, rather than the black tea with milk which we consume. However the research team believes similar benefits may come from both.

Study leader associate Professor Tongzhi Wu, of Adelaide University, said: “Our findings hint at the protective effects of habitual tea drinking on blood sugar management.” The expert added: "The substantial health benefits of tea, including a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, have been reported in several studies over recent years, but the mechanisms underlying these benefits have been unclear.

"Our findings hint at the protective effects of habitual tea drinking on blood sugar management via increased glucose excretion in urine, improved insulin resistance and thus better control of blood sugar. These benefits were most pronounced among daily dark tea drinkers.”

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The findings are presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Hamburg, Germany.

Martin Bagot