Can Sugar Alter Health Benefits of Green Tea?
June 21, 2023 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Adding sugar to green tea can potentially alter its health benefits, as sugar itself is associated with various negative health effects. Here’s how sugar can affect the health benefits of green tea:
- Increased calorie content: Adding sugar to green tea increases its calorie content. If you’re trying to maintain a healthy weight or manage conditions like diabetes, consuming excess calories from added sugar can be detrimental.
- Blood sugar control: Green tea has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. However, adding sugar to your tea can negate these benefits by causing a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.
- Antioxidant potency: Green tea is rich in antioxidants called catechins, which have been linked to various health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, supporting heart health, and potentially reducing the risk of certain cancers. Adding sugar to green tea may interfere with the absorption or utilization of these antioxidants, diminishing their beneficial effects.
- Dental health: Sugar promotes tooth decay and contributes to dental problems. When sugar is added to green tea, it can increase the likelihood of tooth decay and negate the potential oral health benefits that green tea may offer.
To fully reap the health benefits of green tea, it’s generally recommended to consume it without adding sugar. If you find the taste of unsweetened green tea too bitter, you can try gradually reducing the amount of sugar added or opting for natural sweeteners like honey or stevia, which have fewer negative health effects compared to refined sugar.