Drinking This Much Green Tea & Coffee May Lower Diabetes Risks, Study Finds

If you've been thinking about kicking your caffeine habit, you may want to reconsider. Especially for people with type 2 diabetes, new research shows certain caffeinated drinks may have protective effects. A study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care Journal found routinely drinking green tea and coffee can lower the risk of dying from type 2 diabetes.

Each participant filled out a questionnaire detailing their food and drink habits, including how much coffee and green tea they drank each day. Other lifestyle factors, such as smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, and sleep quality, were also taken into account. Here's what they found: 

Throughout the course of the study, 309 people died, primarily from cancer and cardiovascular disease. The research shows people who drank either coffee, green tea, or both were less likely to die from diabetes risk factors (circulatory diseases, dementia, cancer, and bone fractures). 

Participants who doubled up on their daily drinks were even more protected from the diabetes risk factors, according to the findings. Drinking four or more cups of green tea each day and two or more cups of coffee was associated with a 63% lower risk of death. 

This study is observational, meaning it's unclear exactly why the association occurred. Green tea and coffee do contain potent anti-inflammatory antioxidants, which may potentially play a role in these findings, or at the very least, in promoting overall health. So, pour yourself another brew, and avoid those dreaded caffeine withdrawals.