What happens to your blood sugar when you drink raspberry leaf tea

Raspberry leaf tea is made from the red raspberry plant (Rubus idaeus), which also produces the berries. The leaves are rich in plant compounds called polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Research shows that tea made from the leaves can also help manage blood sugar levels.

The research, published in Nutrientsfound that drinking tea after consuming sucrose (table sugar) led to lower blood sugar levels in healthy adults compared to consuming sucrose alone.

For the study, researchers recruited 22 adults ages 18 to 65 with no history of prediabetes, diabetes, or insulin resistance. Over four separate sessions, participants consumed 50 grams of sucrose or glucose – another type of sugar found in foods like grapes, corn, potatoes and energy drinks – with or without 10 grams of raspberry leaf tea.

About two hours after consumption, everyone had their blood sugar and insulin levels checked.

After analysis, researchers found that when people drank raspberry leaf tea after consuming sucrose, their blood sugar and insulin levels were significantly reduced. Blood sugar levels dropped 26% after 15 minutes and 44% after 30 minutes. Notably, when raspberry leaf tea was consumed with glucose, there was no significant drop in blood sugar and insulin levels.

The raspberry leaf tea used in the study contains 37 polyphenolic compounds, including ellagitannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids. “The effects observed in the study participants are likely due to these polyphenols,” Alkhudaydi explained. They are thought to slow the breakdown of sucrose, thereby reducing rapid spikes in blood sugar.

The results suggest that raspberry leaf tea may support blood sugar control as a gentle and accessible adjunct to medications or other standard treatments.

“In our trial, raspberry leaf tea was well tolerated and did not cause gastrointestinal side effects,” Hind noted.

Before taking raspberry leaf tea to manage your blood sugar, experts recommend consulting a healthcare professional, especially if you are pregnant or taking blood sugar-lowering medications.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that the study has some major caveats.

On the one hand, it was small. The researchers only tested acute effects, not long-term, and the participant group included only healthy people. Additionally, this is the first human study of its kind.

So while raspberry leaf tea could theoretically lower blood sugar levels, it’s too early to know for sure. In light of this, Jamie Baham, MS, RDN, LD, diabetes dietitian and owner of Ladybug Nutrition, said: Health that This drink is worth trying as part of a balanced diet and if you enjoy it, but not just for the purpose of reducing blood sugar spikes.

Haq agreed. “I would recommend incorporating a cup of raspberry leaf tea (brewed with a few tablespoons of leaves) into a high-carb meal, but more for overall enjoyment,” she said.

To more reliably manage blood sugar levels, Haq suggested eating protein-containing meals and focusing on fiber-rich foods, such as:

• Vegetables
• Legumes
• Nut
• Seeds
• Whole grains

Also avoid ultra-processed foods and added sugars as much as possible, she added.