Diabetes: Slurping this drink could lower your blood sugar levels
DIABETES type 2, and other forms of the condition, happen when the body cannot control its blood sugar levels. It can be caused by a range of factors, including a poor diet and not exercising regularly. Drinking this tea can help lower your blood sugar levels.
Diabetes type 2 treatment focuses on making diet and lifestyle changes.
You could even reverse your diabetes type 2 by trying the fast fix diet.
Healthline, a medicinal website, said you could drink tea from the Yerba Mate plant to help lower blood sugar levels.
“Tea from the Yerba Mate plant may improve insulin signaling and blood sugar control,” said the US-based website online.
“However, more research is needed in humans.”
A study found Yerba Mate “can potentially be used to treat obesity and diabetes”.
Giving the plant extract to mice, researchers found it could affect food intake, and reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Published in the journal of Laboratory Animal Research, researchers said the diet changes, “resulted in higher energy expenditure, likely as a result of a faster metabolism in Yerba Mate-treated mice”.
Another study published the year before suggested Yerba Mate “restores” insulin signalling in the liver for mice that have diabetes.
Published in Molecular Cell Endocrinology, the researchers also found that Yerba Mate had a “potential anti-inflammatory effect”.
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To prepare mate, fill the bottom third of a calabash (type of tea pot) with dried or toasted mate leaves and add hot water.
Healthline added that the tea could be served hot or cold, as a loose leaf drink.
“To prepare mate, fill the bottom third of a calabash (type of tea pot) with dried or toasted mate leaves and add hot water.”
You can also purchase Yerba Mate tea in bags for around £2 at most local supermarkets.
The plant originates from South America, where it was first used as a drink before the 17th century.
However, when Spanish settlers arrived the tea was exported to other areas of the world.
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You could also slash blood sugar levels by drinking more water.
A 24-week study found that overweight adults who replaced diet sodas with water, alongside a weight loss program, enjoyed decreased insulin resistance.
They also were found to have lower fasting blood sugar and insulin levels.
Adding avocado to your diet can also help to regulate blood sugar.
“If you have type 2 diabetes, adding avocado to your diet may help you lose weight, lower cholesterol, and increase insulin sensitivity,” said medical website Healthline.