A natural tea extract called Green Rooibos might help protect insulin-producing cells in the pancreas from damage caused by stress and bad fats, keeping more of them alive—and it does this in a way that doesn’t rely on the body’s usual defense system.

The study found that green Rooibos extract helps protect insulin-producing cells from damage caused by stress and fat, and it turns down two harmful genes—just like the claim says. But it’s not totally clear if it works completely without using the body’s usual antioxidant system, so that part is a bit uncertain.