People with diabetes typically have to avoid certain foods and beverages, especially if they are sugary. Energy drinks, sugary sports drinks, sodas, and bottled juices tend to be off limits for diabetics, but that’s not the case for teas. Certain teas have proven to be very beneficial for people with diabetes. Some varieties may help increase insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation, promote weight loss, and aid with blood sugar control. All of these things are essential for managing diabetes. 

How Can Tea Help People With Type 2 Diabetes?

Unsweetened teas have powerful health properties that benefit people with or without type 2 diabetes. For diabetic patients, though, certain teas contain compounds that can help control blood sugar and inflammation. Drinking tea is a great way to provide the body with hydration and antioxidants that fight free radicals, which can damage cells. Many health experts believe that oxidative stress, caused by free radicals, is one contributing factor to the onset of type 2 diabetes. Choosing teas, then, that contain plant compounds that combat cellular damage is a step in the right direction. Additionally, hydrating the body with teas has been associated with more balanced blood sugar levels. In fact, one meta analysis found that drinking three cups of tea daily resulted in a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

Discover the perks of drinking the following teas if you are looking to help control or reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Oolong Tea

Oolong tea comes from the same plant that green tea and black tea come from. Made from oxidized leaves from the Camilla sinensis plant, oolong tea may help to improve cognitive function and bone health. For diabetics, oolong tea may promote weight loss and improve heart health. One study found that drinking oolong tea helped control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Additionally, the polyphenols in oolong tea may offer protective effects against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.

Rooibos Tea

According to laboratory studies, rooibos tea may encourage weight loss. Obesity is one of the primary contributing factors to type 2 diabetes. One study found that diabetics who were able to control weight were able to better control blood sugar and reduce the progression of the condition. Another study found that rooibos tea may inhibit fat cell formation, which may decrease the risk of obesity. Rooibos also contains aspalathin, which is a compound that may help to lower blood glucose levels. A 2019 study found that aspalathin may work to reverse metabolic complications that increase the risk of weight gain. Plus, rooibos tea may lower bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Ginger Tea

Ginger tea has a classic zing and is beneficial for sore throats or upset stomachs. However, new research points to the fact that ginger may work to lower fasting blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. A 2015 study that was published in the Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine observed diabetics who didn’t take insulin and supplemented with ginger. After three months of ginger supplementation, the group experienced improvement in glycemic control. Researchers believe that ginger tea helps to inhibit enzymes that play a role in carbohydrate metabolism and increased insulin sensitivity. 

Chamomile Tea

Native to many European and Western Asian countries, chamomile is an aromatic plant that offers numerous health benefits. Several studies found that drinking chamomile tea works to decrease blood sugar levels. Additional studies found that chamomile contains anti-inflammatory properties that may inhibit damage to the pancreas. The pancreas helps to maintain balanced blood sugar levels, so this is good news for type 2 diabetics. A 2018 study found that chamomile tea may improve insulin resistance and glucose management. At the end of that same eight-week study, type 2 diabetics also also experienced a reduction in inflammatory markers. 

Peppermint Tea

Aside from calming an upset stomach, peppermint tea works to promote relaxation, which is good news for your A1C. Several studies found that diabetics with high stress levels experience blood glucose spikes and crashes. Calming the body and reducing stress often works to balance blood glucose, making them easier to control. A past study found that inhaling peppermint aroma via a diffuser helps to reduce anxiety, anger, and overall frustration. If you experience high stress and have diabetes, peppermint tea may be right for you!

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If you are like 90% of Americans, chances are that you consume caffeine in one or more ways every single day. More than 50% of American adults consume 300 milligrams of caffeine per day (considered too much by health experts), making it the most popular drug in America.

What Is Caffeine?

Caffeine is the undisputed morning drug of choice for people. It wakes you up, alters moods, and stimulates the central nervous system the same way that amphetamines do. Caffeine actually blocks adenosine, a chemical in that body that promotes sleepiness, which can interfere with a healthy sleep pattern. Found in more than 60 plants, caffeine is the most popular stimulant in the world. It is a psychostimulant that makes you more alert. Yerba mate, guarana, coffee, tea, and certain herbs are the most common forms of caffeine.

Can You Increase Energy Levels Without Caffeine?

Most people don’t understand that caffeine is the short-term solution to increasing energy levels. And consuming too much caffeine results in a hardcore crash. The reality is that most people can’t imagine a life without caffeine, but it is possible to boost energy levels without it. The combination of regular exercise, healthy eating, sufficient sleep, and stress-reducing techniques all improve your energy levels. Besides all of that, the following herbal, caffeine-free teas can give you that energy boost you’re looking for.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea helps to calm upset stomachs, but the secret benefits are that it can improve focus, memory, and energy levels. The tea has a minty flavor with hints of pine, and it tastes best when you brew it for five to ten minutes. Northrumbia University conducted a study with 180 individuals. One group took a placebo and the other drank peppermint tea. The group that drank peppermint tea experienced improved cognition and elevated mood.

Lemon Balm Tea

This isn’t high on everyone’s list of energy boosting beverages, but it may be after you read about it. Historically, lemon balm helped to regulate mood and improve cognitive function, making people more alert. People who drink lemon balm tea find that they are less irritable and have more energy without being nervous or jumpy.

Ginger Tea

You should always have ginger in your house. It’s a wonderful herbal remedy that helps reduce sore throats and stomach pain. Countless studies on ginger have examined its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to improve blood flow. Newer studies found that increased circulation can help boost energy levels. In fact, a study in Herbal Medicine found that ginger promotes adrenal catecholamine secretion. Since these chemical compounds regulate energy consumption, drinking ginger tea may help you sustain energy throughout the day on a chemical level.

Licorice Root Tea

Licorice root is an adaptogenic herb, and it helps to regulate hormonal production. It encourages the adrenal glands to increase blood flow, which in turn contributes to increased energy. Licorice root does have that signature licorice flavor, but you can mix it with other herbal teas to reduce the intensity of the flavor. You can also sweeten it with raw agave or stevia to mellow the taste.

Rooibos Tea

Native to South Africa, rooibos is a small red bush that contains potent antioxidants, similar to the ones that are in green tea. Most health experts consider rooibos tea to be the best caffeine-free tea in the world, specifically for the antiviral activity, cholesterol lowering abilities, chemopreventative activity, and blood pressure lowering ability. It can help to decrease fatigue and improve focus, but it isn’t the best tea for energy on this list.

Astragalus Tea

Astragalus is a common herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Brewed from the root of the astragalus plant, astragalus tea helps to support the adrenal glands, where we get our energy. If you suffer from adrenal fatigue, astragalus should be one of your go-to herbs. Lastly, astragalus is a natural diuretic and helps to support healthy immune function.

Ginkgo Biloba

TCM uses ginkgo biloba to help increase blood flow throughout the body, opening channels of energy that improve overall health. Many people consume this tea to help boost brain health or improve memory. If you feel fatigued or have a cloudy mind, drink a cup of ginkgo biloba tea for mental clarity and a slight pick-me-up.

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During these colder months, sipping on a hot cup of tea is a great idea. Aside from warming up your core temperature, you could be reaping a bunch of health benefits with every sip. Rather than going for the standard, cheap, no-name black tea, spring for some delicious herbal teas like the ones that are in this article.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is one of the best things to drink if you have an upset stomach. It’s also great if you had a big night out on the town and need something soothing. The beneficial properties of the tea work to keep the digestive system functioning like it should.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

Raspberries contain tons of antioxidants that work to stimulate the immune system. It comes as no surprise, then, that this tea helps to get rid of cold sores and canker sores. Because this tea also works to promote uterine health, pregnant woman are advised to avoid drinking a lot of this. It can make them urinate even more.

Rooibos Tea

If you can successfully pronounce this tea, props to you. Since rooibos basically gets rid of free radicals in the body, it helps boost antioxidant levels. It also helps to enhance antioxidant defenses. Rooibos tea has been shown to be 30% more effective at causing apoptosis (cancer cell death) than other herbal teas. It is particularly effective on premalignant cells.

Turmeric Tea

Not only can turmeric help to spice up your memory, but it also works to boost the immune system and fight cancer cells. Consuming turmeric may even help to fight off Alzheimer’s disease. While using the powder to make tea is beneficial, using fresh turmeric root will yield the most benefits.

Ginger Tea

Ginger has too many health properties to list. It works to boost the immune system, but drinking the tea can also be beneficial if you have a sore throat. Ginger is incredibly rich in vitamin C, works to promote healthy circulation, and can actually help you get rid of water weight.

Chamomile Tea

If you have trouble going to sleep or have insomnia, drinking chamomile tea can help calm your nerves and put you to bed. Chamomile tea almost acts as a mild, all-natural tranquilizer! Prepare one cup of chamomile tea and drink it about 1.5-2 hours before bed. You can drink several cups in the evening if you suffer from insomnia.

Orange Peel Tea

Orange peel tea is great no matter what time of the year it is. Not only is it filled with powerful antioxidants and flavonoids, it also contains compounds that work to combat the aging process. If you have acne, orange peel tea is beneficial to drink because it works to reduce inflammation and redness. You can easily make this by peeling the orange, chopping the peel, and boiling the peel for about 10 minutes.

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Certain cultures have been using herbal remedies for thousands of years. These natural herbs or other healing plants have remained unchanged, but we are only now realizing how beneficial they are for optimal health. We are what you might call “late to the party.”

People in the Mediterranean have been reaping the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits of rosemary for quite some time. Chinese herbal medicine has used ginseng, among other herbs like astragalus or gingko, for over 2,000 years. But this article isn’t concerned with those herbs; this article is focused on rooibos.

What Is Rooibos?

Rooibos was first found in the Cederberg region of South Africa, and it was used by the Khoisans for its medicinal properties. The rooibos leaves have been brewed into tea for centuries, but it almost became non-existent as the Khoisan tribes dwindled. However, a botanist named Carl Humberg rediscovered rooibos leaves in 1772 and revived the herbal remedy.

Rooibos tea has skyrocketed in publicity within the last sixty years, specifically after Annique Theron, a South African mother, published a book about its benefits. Also known as “red bush tree,” rooibos is a caffeine-free tea that is made from the leaves of the plant. Similar to green tea, which has a multitude of flavonoids and polyphenols, rooibos tea contains powerful compounds that can help fight off cancer cells.

Prevents Oxidative Stress

In the developing stages of cancer, there are typically more free radicals than antioxidants in the body. This imbalance can cause oxidative stress and DNA cell damage. Since rooibos basically gets rid of free radicals in the body, it helps boost antioxidant levels. It also helps to enhance antioxidant defenses.

May Kill Cancer Cells

Rooibos tea has been shown to be 30% more effective at causing apoptosis (cancer cell death) than other herbal teas. It is particularly effective on premalignant cells. The compounds in the tea help to kill these cells before they begin multiplying.

Helps Normal Cells Be Cancer-Free

Research on rooibos tea has shown that it helps to remove precancerous cells from the body. This helps protect normal cells by interrupting the cell cycle progression and cell growth, which can lead to the development of cancer.

Helps Decrease Inflammation in Cells

Excess inflammation in the body, specifically at a cellular level, has been linked to the development of cancer. This is why people with cancer are often recommended to eat alkaline and anti-inflammatory foods. Rooibos tea is especially helpful with decreasing inflammation in the digestive system; and a healthy digestive system can help inhibit cancer growth.

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