Thursday March 24, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- A commentary published in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolism suggests that drinking chamomile tea immediately after eating meals can help control glucose levels in people with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus or helps prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Mina T Kelleni from Minia University in Egypt who authored the commentary cited a recent randomized controlled trial as confirming animal studies that indicate that chamomile tea may prevent the progression of hyperglycemia and diabetic complications in those who have already acquired type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Chamomile tea derived from Matricaria (Chamomilla) recurita L is commonly used worldwide as a herbal beverage.  Chamomile is known to protect against harmful oxidation/peroxidation, inflammation, cancer, diarrhea, and other health conditions even though its anti-diabetic properties have drawn researchers' attention recently.

Chamomile tea contains many healthy ingredients luteolin, which is also found in celery and green pepper and antioxidants like apigenin, umbelliferone, esculetin and quercetin that are found to protect against mutagenesis, tumorigenesis, oxidation/peroxidation and inflammation.  Animal studies have already demonstrated that extracts from chamomile tea lower blood levels in rats with drug induced diabetes.

Like extracts from ginseng, lime blossom, Paraguay tea, balm, rhodiola, black tea and knotgrass, chamomile tea extracts can extend the lifespan in roundworms that suffered glucose induced complications.

Most direct evidence that suggests that chamomile tea can help prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus comes from the studies conducted by researchers at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.  The studies suggest that drinking chamomile tea three times a day immediately after eating for a period of eight weeks significantly reduced HbA1c and boosted the total antioxidant load.  The researchers also found that drinking chamomile tea can also improve lipid profiles in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

While a large-scale trial is needed to confirm the antidiabetic effect of chamomile tea, food consumers may not have to wait for more evidence to justify use of chamomile tea.   Chamomile tea has been used worldwide and it is safe to be used as a herbal beverage and supplemental food.  If you have any sign indicating that you are at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, you may want to start drinking chamomile without hesitation.

Chamomile tea is not the only preventative food consumers may use to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus.   An early Indian study suggests that taking curcumin in a dose of six grams per day for three months can stop the progression of pre-diabetes into type 2 diabetes mellitus.  Other lifestyle factors that can influence the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus is consumption of sugar, trans fat and saturated fat among other things.

For more information, read Chamomile tea on wikipedia.org,  (David Liu)

Citation: Kelleni MT (2016) Chamomile Tea Potentials in Prevention and Amelioration of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Diabetes Metab 7: 649. doi:10.4172/2155-6156.1000649

Photo credit:  Ianakoz at wikipedia.org