"Coffee, Tea, and Water: The Best Drinks for Diabetics According to Harvard Study"

2023-04-20 17:38:00

Von FITBOOK | Apr 20, 2023 at 7:38 p.m

Is coffee suitable for diabetics? A new study found out which drinks can actually extend or shorten the lives of those affected.

Sugary drinks are unhealthy and therefore not suitable for diabetics. Because: Lemonade, cola and Co. increase the mortality risk, as a current Harvard study found. Coffee, tea, water and even milk, on the other hand, have a life-prolonging effect.

What is the best drink for diabetes?

More than 500 million adults worldwide will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2021, with the number expected to rise to 783 million by 2045, according to a study published by The BMJ.¹Diet is known to play a key role in the management of diabetes. So far, however, little research has been done on the choice of beverages. To fill this knowledge gap, the researchers drew on data from 15,486 adults (74 percent female; median age 61 years) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the Nurses’ Health Study between 1980 and 2018.

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Beverage preferences examined closely

Drink consumption was recorded using a validated food questionnaire and updated every two to four years. These included sugar-sweetened soft drinks, diet sodas, fruit juices, coffee, tea, low-fat and whole milk, and plain water. During an average of 18.5 years of follow-up, the researchers recorded 3,447 cases of cardiovascular disease and 7,638 deaths. What influence did the respective beverage preference have on the time of death?

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Coffee prolongs the life of diabetics

After considering various lifestyle factors, it turned out that a love of coffee in particular pays off for diabetics. The researchers calculated that daily coffee consumption (up to six cups!) reduces the risk of premature death by a full 26 percent. It is 21 percent for black tea, 23 percent for water and twelve percent for low-fat milk. Interesting: Diabetics who only discovered coffee or tea after their diagnosis reduced their probability of dying earlier by 18 percent. In other words: coffee, tea, milk and of course water are the best choices for diabetics when it comes to drinks.

Sugary drinks drastically increase the risk of death

The situation is different with Limo and Co. Consumed daily, they increase the risk of death by up to 29 percent. A high price, according to the researchers involved, but as expected. However, some questions remain open. Below: Does adding milk and sugar to coffee or tea affect the effect? Or: Is low-fat milk with cocoa just as effective or does the positive effect cancel out? One thing is certain: For diabetics, the coffee gossip (without cream cake, of course) is one of the healthier and therefore recommendable leisure activities.