FoodFacts.com came across this interesting information today regarding one of our favorite hot beverages – black tea!

A new study was reported on regarding an analysis done on data gathered from 50 different nations and its results linked higher black tea consumption with lower Type 2 Diabetes rates. This is an important finding because the International Diabetes Federation reports that over the last 25 years Type 2 diabetes has risen at an enormous pace. In fact, they are projecting that by 2030 almost twice as many people worldwide will have this disease than in 2010.

Many studies over the years have shown a connection between black tea consumption and various health benefits. One such study out of Scotland linked black tea with the prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. The new analysis done took into consideration the results of that and other studies on black tea.

They gathered and analyzed data on black tea consumption in 50 different countries. In addition they analyzed data that focused on the levels of Respiratory Disease, Infectious Disease, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer and Diabetes in those same countries.

Ireland appears to be the nation with the most tea drinkers, Great Britain was second, followed by Turkey. The countries with the lowest numbers of tea drinkers were Mexico, Morocco, China, Brazil and South Korea. Through further statistical analysis they were able to find out how black tea consumption impacted the diseases they chose to focus on country by country.

They found a definite link between high black tea consumption and lower rates of Type 2 diabetes in specific countries. The rates of the other diseases considered were not impacted by high rates of tea drinking.

There has always been great interest in the health benefits of green tea. It contains catechins which are simple flavonoids and believed to have anti-inflammatory properties. When green tea is fermented it becomes black tea and then contains a variety of complex flavonoids. These have also been linked to different health benefits.

In addition to the link discovered between black tea consumption and Type 2 Diabetes levels, black tea has also been connected to lowering blood pressure, lowering stress hormones, reducing the risk of stroke, helping with dental plaque and slowing down the growth of prostate cancer.

FoodFacts.com encourages our community to enjoy a cup of black tea more often. While further research needs to be conducted, the possibility of these health benefits from a nice warming cup of tea strike us as a great reason to include more in our diets!

Read more:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/252568.php