Lifestyle, Nutrition and Supplements
Green Tea May Help Reduce Gut Inflammation and Blood Sugar Levels
Aug
In a new study recently published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, researchers evaluated whether health risks associated with metabolic syndrome may be diminished by consuming green tea extract.
Green tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Its dried leaves and leaf buds are used to make several different teas, including black and oolong teas. It is prepared by steaming and pan-frying the leaves and then drying them.
Green tea is also not fermented, so it’s able to maintain important molecules called polyphenols, which seem to be responsible for many of its benefits, and it also contains caffeine.
Reduced Fasting Glucose and Intestinal Inflammation
For the study, the team conducted a clinical trial that includes 40 participants. 21 of them with metabolic syndrome and 19 healthy adults. The participants were given gummies containing catechins, equal to five cups of green tea for a total of 28 days.
All participants also spent 28 days taking a placebo and during the duration of the study, they were taking no supplements.
Fasting glucose levels, insulin, lipids, and dietary polyphenols were evaluated before and on days 14 and 28 of each intervention. Intestinal inflammation was also evaluated with stool samples.
In the end, the team concluded that green tea extract lowered blood sugar and decreased intestinal inflammation and permeability in both healthy participants and those with metabolic syndrome.
Previous studies have shown that green tea can impact chronic disease risk, gut health, and mental health. The use of green tea extracts and consumption of green tea could be a good practice to reduce overall body inflammation.
Before starting taking supplements such as green tea extracts consult your physician because they can cause interactions with some medications.
Source:
Beth JoJack. (2022, Jul 31). Leaky gut: Green tea may help reduce gut inflammation, blood sugar. Medical News Today. Retrieved from:
Joanna Hodges, et al. Catechin-Rich Green Tea Extract Reduced Intestinal Inflammation and Fasting Glucose in Metabolic Syndrome and Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Controlled, Crossover Trial, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 6, Issue Supplement_1, June 2022, Page 981, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzac068.010
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-960/green-tea
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