Green Tea Better than Drug for Fighting Diabetes

Diabetics looking for a safer and more natural alternative to the controversial diabetes drug Avandia may be able to find it in a cup of green tea. Researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute found that the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) in green tea helped moderately diabetic mice tolerate sugar and produce insulin. However, the mice with severe diabetes did not benefit as much from EGCG.

While green tea was found to be less potent than Avandia, the study found that it produces similar benefits, but without any side effects. Additionally, researchers examined the mice's pancreases at the end of the study and discovered that the compound EGCG preserved insulin-producing tissue and limited damage that could worsen diabetes.

The findings suggest that green tea extract may also help prevent and treat diabetes in humans.

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