10 Drinks That Fight Diabetes Black Tea Already touted as a healthy drink chock full of antioxidants, drinking up to four cups of black tea a day has been shown to help reduce the risk of diabetes by about 16 percent. This is due to the presence of polysaccharides, a kind of carbohydrate that slows down the bloodstream's sugar absorption. Coffee Getty Images Coffee Studies show that drinking more than one cup of coffee a day over four years decreased people's risks for type 2 diabetes by around 11 percent. It's not just the caffeine, either: decaffeinated coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes by about 36 percent. Researchers believe that it may be due to phytonutrients, which are plant-based chemicals that slow down the release of sugar into the blood. Red Wine Getty Images Red Wine Studies show that moderate consumption of red wine, about a glass or two daily, makes insulin more efficient at reaching glucose within cells. Red wine contains polyphenols and resveratrol, which act like antioxidants that fight fluctuating sugar levels. It allows your blood to flow more freely because it prevents glycation in your blood vessels. Water Getty Images Water Drinking at least 16 ounces of water a day is essential for diabetics. What if you drank more? A study by French researchers reported that people who drank more than 34 ounces of water a day had less chances of developing hyperglycemia in the next decade or so. This could be because of the connection between diabetes and vasopressin, a hormone that controls water in the body. Coconut Water Getty Images Coconut Water Next time you want a sweet and refreshing drink, give coconut water a try. This miracle drink from nature is low in calories and sugar but high in benefits. It contains B vitamins and potassium. It's also a healthier alternative to sports drinks because it contains electrolytes, enzymes, and amino acids that help control your sugar levels. Hot Chocolate Getty Images Hot Chocolate While hot chocolate is normally considered something bad for diabetics to drink, studies show that it can actually have significant health benefits if prepared correctly. According to researcher Lee Hooper and his colleagues, chocolate and cocoa can improve your insulin resistance by reducing serum insulin, giving your body better blood sugar control. Almond Milk Getty Images Almond Milk Besides being cholesterol-free, almond milk also contains a low amount of sugar. Just make sure you get the unsweetened versions so that you'll get just seven grams of sugar per cup. Because they are low on the glycemic index, your body is able to more efficiently digest and turn its sugars into energy. Chamomile Tea Getty Images Chamomile Tea For years, chamomile tea has been touted as a cure-all for all kinds of medical conditions. To find out if it could cure diabetes, researcher Atsushi Kato and his team fed diabetic rats chamomile extract for around three weeks. When compared to the results of a controlled group of non-diabetic rats, the ones given chamomile had a huge decrease in blood sugar levels. Spice Tea Spice Tea You can also add spiced tea to your day by sprinkling some cinnamon and turmeric in a cup or hot water. Cinnamon has been shown to improve insulin function and, combined with water, control elevated sugar over time. Cinnamon is also, of course, filled with loads of antioxidants. Apple Cider Vinegar Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is another drink that can help control blood sugar. Vinegar has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity after high-carb meals by lowering blood glucose and insulin responses. It also helps in weight loss; vinegar increases the feeling of fullness during meals, which means your caloric intake will likely decrease.

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