Drinks to lower blood sugar/Photo credit: Unsplash
Looking to lower your blood sugar levels without depending on the common way of doing so by avoiding sugar-sweetened drinks, such as soda, fruit juice blends, lemonade, and sweet tea.
But other drinks can make an even more positive impact on your metabolic function, according to EatingWell.
Water
Not only does water have zero calories but it also helps one stay hydrated. Plain water is linked to a 6% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a study from the National Library of Medicine.
When switching from drinking sugary beverages to water, this successfully decreases sugar and calorie intake and helps people maintain a healthy weight. Therefore, plain water ultimately helps with blood sugar control, also in infused flavors too.
Coffee
Water is not the only drink shown to help lower type 2 diabetes because studies from the National Library of Medicine show that coffee does the trick too. Coffee has a plant compound called phytochemicals that may support the health of cells in the liver and pancreas, which protects against the development of fatty liver and preserves insulin function. Keep in mind that this is a high regulator for blood sugar.
Black Tea
Tea is reportedly also associated with a lower risk of diabetes and complications from diabetes. Researchers say compounds from black and oolong tea help improve insulin resistance and decrease oxidative stress and inflammation. They can also be developed into products that could help manage diabetes.
If black tea tastes too bitter, tea blends like chai with no sugar added, is the best alternative. Or for a zero-calorie drink with no sugar, EatingWell recommends a No-Sugar-Added Raspberry Iced Tea, which is made with black tea.
Green Tea
Not a fan of black tea? Then green tea is the way to go! Drinking green tea has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose levels as it is a good zero-calorie drink to stabilizie blood sugar. Catechins in green tea can lower blood sugar by blocking absorption of carbohydrates during digestion, maybe also improving glucose metabolism, and lessening oxidative stress.
Milk
Dairy proteins such as casein and whey can help lower blood glucose response after eating a meal. They slow digestion and improve insulin response, leading to a positive effect on blood sugar levels.
Although there is only a small handful of research on how milk consumption affects A1C levels, choosing nonfat or low-fat milk can help with saturated fat, according to the American Diabetes Association. Additionally, milk contains carbohydrates, which is about 12 grams of carbs per cup of 1% milk.
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