December 19/London/Indo-Asian News Service -- Taking tea may prevent weight gain caused by junk food, according to a new study.

Researchers found regular consumption of tea also suppressed damaging changes in the blood linked to fatty foods that can lead to type-2 diabetes, reports dailymail.co.uk.

They said the research on mice could signal another set of health benefits from tea if they are confirmed in trials on humans.

In the study, some mice were given a high-fat diet and others a normal diet. Each of these two groups were then split into smaller groups and given water, black tea or green tea for 14 weeks.

Both types of tea suppressed body weight gain and the build-up of belly fat linked to a fatty diet.

However, black tea, which is used in most ordinary cuppas, also counteracted the harmful effects on the blood normally associated with a high-fat diet.

These included increases in cholesterol, high blood glucose and insulin resistance -- a precursor to type-2 diabetes where the body does not efficiently use the insulin it produces.

Rising obesity levels in Western countries have resulted in many more people having insulin resistance.

Taking tea has already been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, cancer and Parkinson's disease. Other research shows drinking tea on a regular basis for 10 or more years may improve bone density.

From the January 10, 2011, Prepared Foods E-dition