After Mary's message, I did some searching on the effects of
coffee on insulin.  The key effect seems to be that the caffeine
causes an increase in insulin resistance, which eventually
results in higher insulin levels.

The following passage concerning green tea, however, is
interesting: "When starch is consumed, it requires the enzyme
amylase to break it down into simple sugars that can be absorbed
in the blood stream. Green tea polyphenols inhibit amylase, which
therefore cuts down on the harmful sugars absorbed into the
blood. One study showed that just one cup of green tea inhibited
amylase activity by 87 percent. Another study showed that green
tea extract reduced the normal elevation of glucose and insulin
when 50 grams of starch were ingested. This is good, because high
blood levels of glucose and insulin predispose people to diabetes
and cardiovascular disease, and are associated with accelerated
aging."

(source: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag98/may98_tea.html )

This property of green tea, in addition to its ability to prevent
blood turbidity after a fatty meal, is yet another reason to
drink it.

Todd Moody
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