Iced Black Tea (Instant, Unsweetened): A Refreshing Low-Glycemic Beverage
When looking for a refreshing beverage that won’t spike your blood sugar, unsweetened iced black tea is an excellent choice. This popular drink offers hydration with minimal impact on your glycemic response, making it suitable for those monitoring their carbohydrate intake.
Glycemic Information
Our user-friendly app features a searchable database, meal planning tools, and personalized recommendations based on your health goals.
Unsweetened iced black tea (instant) has a moderate Glycemic Index (GI) of 50, placing it right at the boundary between low and medium GI foods. However, what makes this beverage particularly suitable for blood sugar management is its extremely low Glycemic Load (GL) of just 0.12.
While the GI tells us how quickly a food raises blood sugar, the GL takes into account both the GI and the actual amount of carbohydrates in a serving. With such a minimal GL, instant unsweetened black tea has a negligible effect on blood glucose levels despite its moderate GI rating.
Nutritional Breakdown
Per 100ml serving of instant unsweetened iced black tea:
- Calories: 1
- Protein: 0.02g
- Fat: 0g
- Total Carbohydrates: 0.23g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 0.01g
- Net Carbs: 0.23g
Benefits for Blood Sugar Management
Instant unsweetened iced black tea is an ideal beverage choice for several reasons:
- The extremely low carbohydrate content (0.23g per 100ml) means minimal impact on blood sugar
- With just 1 calorie per 100ml, it’s perfect for weight management plans
- Contains zero fat and virtually no sugar (0.01g)
- Provides hydration without the blood sugar spikes associated with sweetened beverages
Incorporating Iced Black Tea Into Your Diet
This refreshing beverage can be enjoyed throughout the day as a hydrating alternative to water. For those transitioning away from sugary drinks, unsweetened iced tea provides flavor without the glycemic impact.
If you find plain unsweetened tea too bitter, consider these low-glycemic additions:
- A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime
- A few fresh mint leaves
- Adding a small amount of a low-glycemic sweetener if necessary
Bottom Line
Instant unsweetened iced black tea offers virtually no calories or carbohydrates while providing a flavorful hydration option. With its negligible glycemic load of 0.12, it’s an excellent choice for anyone monitoring their blood sugar levels, following a low-carb diet, or simply looking to reduce their intake of sweetened beverages.
Remember that adding sugar or honey would significantly increase both the glycemic index and glycemic load of this beverage, so it’s best enjoyed unsweetened for optimal blood sugar management.