Advantages, Aspect Results, and Extra


Inexperienced tea is likely one of the oldest drinks identified to man. Originating in China, this drink comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and should date way back to 3,000 years in the past. At present, you’ll be able to take pleasure in inexperienced tea in the whole lot from smoothies to cheesecakes—but it surely’s nonetheless a superb solo beverage, too. 

Apart from its earthy but delicate style, inexperienced tea gives quite a few well being advantages, particularly due to its plentiful ranges of antioxidants. Right here’s a have a look at how usually consuming this delicate beverage might enhance your well being. 

Inexperienced Tea Vitamin

Inexperienced tea accommodates two energy per 1-cup serving and no important quantities of protein, fats, carbohydrates, or sugar—except you add one thing to the tea like honey or uncooked sugar. However this delicate beverage is wealthy in antioxidants, making it a nutritious alternative. In response to the USDA, 1 cup of brewed inexperienced tea accommodates the next vitamins.

  • Energy: 2
  • Fats: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 0 g
  • Sugars: 0 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0.5 g
  • Sodium: 2 mg

Potential Well being Advantages of Inexperienced Tea

A mug right here or there of inexperienced tea most likely received’t yield main well being advantages—however making a behavior of consuming it typically may add as much as some shocking perks for wellness. (As much as 8 cups per day is taken into account secure, although that you must take into account its caffeine content material to find out what’s best for you.) The next are some potential well being advantages of usually consuming inexperienced tea.

Could Enhance Cognitive Well being and Focus

When you have an vital check or presentation developing, imbibing inexperienced tea beforehand might enhance your focus. A overview that analyzed 49 research concluded that individuals who drank inexperienced tea confirmed improved efficiency on long-duration cognitive exams, in addition to higher self-reported alertness. The examine’s researchers postulated that inexperienced tea’s energy-boosting caffeine and calming L-theanine mix to help a state of focus.

Might Help the Immune System

Inexperienced tea is a sizzling beverage that may really feel soothing whenever you’re sick. But it surely additionally might be able to forestall sickness, says Wan Na Chun, MPH, RD, CPT, a registered dietitian, private coach, and proprietor of One Pot Wellness in Indianapolis.

“Inexperienced tea accommodates highly effective antioxidants that may present immune help by way of a number of mechanisms,” says Chun. “Catechins, notably epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), are the principle antioxidants in inexperienced tea that promote immune operate. These compounds assist strengthen the immune system by defending it in opposition to oxidants and free radicals, lowering general oxidative stress within the physique.” 

Chun says research have proven that inexperienced tea catechins can promote the proliferation of immune-strengthening T-cells and pure killer cells, modulating inflammatory responses. “Moreover, inexperienced tea polyphenols could positively affect intestine microbiota and increase the physique’s manufacturing of antioxidant enzymes.”

Could Help Coronary heart Well being

Inexperienced tea additionally could help cardiovascular well being in a number of methods. For starters, some analysis has linked consuming inexperienced tea with considerably decreased levels of cholesterol. Different research have discovered that inexperienced tea consumption might yield small reductions in blood strain.

In a meta-analysis, wholesome adults who supplemented their weight loss program with inexperienced tea skilled common reductions of two.99 mmHg of systolic blood strain and 0.95 mmHg of diastolic blood strain. As a result of each ldl cholesterol and blood strain ranges are vital indicators of coronary heart well being, these measures might have a significant impression on general cardiovascular wellness.

Might Play a Position in Stopping Some Cancers

Various analysis has examined whether or not inexperienced tea might play a task in most cancers prevention. Smaller research have linked inexperienced tea (and its stronger extract kind) with various levels of success in staving off most cancers of the prostate, breasts, bladder, ovaries, and extra. 

Regardless of these promising outcomes, extra analysis is required to make any particular conclusions a few inexperienced tea-cancer connection. The Nationwide Heart for Complementary and Integrative Well being (NCCIH) doesn’t advocate for or in opposition to utilizing inexperienced tea to cut back the chance of any most cancers.

Might Scale back Signs of Inflammatory Bowel Illness

Inexperienced tea is rife with antioxidants—the compounds that scale back irritation by clearing cells of dangerous free radicals. It’s not shocking, then, that this beverage may enhance signs of inflammatory situations like Crohn’s illness and ulcerative colitis.

In response to analysis, inexperienced tea’s polyphenols are implicated within the inflammatory processes and severity of signs in folks with inflammatory bowel illness. When you stay with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, consuming inexperienced tea as a part of an anti-inflammatory weight loss program may be price a attempt.

Attainable Aspect Results

Although negative effects are unlikely from consuming average portions of inexperienced tea, caffeine is trigger for concern in the event you drink copious quantities, says Chun. “[Green tea’s] caffeine content material can result in insomnia, anxiousness, irritability, and digestive points comparable to nausea, acid reflux disease, and diarrhea in caffeine-sensitive people.”

Moreover, the tannins in inexperienced tea can improve abdomen acid, probably inflicting abdomen irritation and exacerbating situations like acid reflux disease or ulcers, she provides. Inexperienced tea can also work together with sure drugs. Verify with a healthcare supplier or pharmacist to stop any antagonistic remedy interactions.

Incessantly Requested Questions


  • Does inexperienced tea have caffeine?

    Inexperienced tea could not pack the caffeine punch of espresso, but it surely does include some. In a 1-cup serving, you’ll be able to anticipate to eat about 29 milligrams of caffeine. For reference, the identical quantity of brewed espresso usually accommodates about 95 milligrams of caffeine. After all, it’s additionally doable to search out inexperienced tea merchandise which have had their caffeine eliminated. Decaf tea luggage and brewed choices are broadly accessible.


  • Does inexperienced tea make it easier to shed pounds?

    You might have seen inexperienced tea touted as a weight reduction help, whether or not in dietary supplements or as a solo drink. A number of research have checked out its skill to assist folks shed pounds, primarily attributable to caffeine’s results on metabolism.

    For instance, one group of researchers analyzed 14 randomized managed trials and concluded that individuals who consumed the beverage for 12 weeks misplaced 0.2 to three.5 kilograms (0.44 to 7.7 kilos) greater than these in a management group. Nevertheless, these outcomes weren’t thought of important.

    In response to the NCCIH, inexperienced tea extracts additionally haven’t been proven to provide a significant weight reduction in adults who’re obese or overweight, nor have they been proven to assist folks preserve weight loss.


  • How lengthy do you steep inexperienced tea?

    How lengthy you steep your tea could depend upon whether or not you’d prefer to drink it sizzling or chilly. For warm steeping, Chun recommends simply two to a few minutes in water heated to round 175 levels Fahrenheit. “Steeping it for longer than this doesn’t essentially present extra well being advantages and should even have drawbacks.”

    As an illustration, steeping longer than wanted can create a bitter style, whereas shorter steeping occasions can preserve the fragile taste profile. Alternatively, for iced inexperienced tea, a lengthier steeping time may improve advantages, she says. “Extended chilly steeping (about two hours) has been discovered to yield probably the most antioxidants.”

Verywell Match makes use of solely high-quality sources, together with peer-reviewed research, to help the details inside our articles. Learn our editorial course of to be taught extra about how we fact-check and hold our content material correct, dependable, and reliable.
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  4. Wu D, Wang J, Pae M, Meydani SN. Inexperienced tea EGCG, T cells, and T cell-mediated autoimmune ailments. Mol Facets Med. 2012 Feb;33(1):107-18. doi:10.1016/j.mam.2011.10.001 

  5. Xu, R., Yang, Okay., Li, S. et al. Impact of inexperienced tea consumption on blood lipids: a scientific overview and meta-analysis of randomized managed trialsNutr J 19, 48 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-020-00557-5

  6. Yıldırım Ayaz E, Dincer B, Mesci B. Impact of Inexperienced Tea on Blood Stress in Wholesome People: A Meta-Evaluation. Altern Ther Well being Med. 2023 Jul;29(5):66-73. 

  7. Barbalho SM, Bosso H, Salzedas-Pescinini LM, de Alvares Goulart R. Inexperienced tea: A risk within the therapeutic strategy of inflammatory bowel ailmentsComplementary Therapies in Medication. 2019;43:148-153. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.01.015

  8. USDA FoodData Central. Drinks, espresso, brewed, ready with faucet water.

  9. Jurgens T, Whelan AM. Can inexperienced tea preparations assist with weight reduction? Can Pharm J (Ott). 2014 Could;147(3):159-60. doi:10.1177/1715163514528668

  10. Nationwide Heart for Integrative and Complementary Well being. Inexperienced tea.

  11. Lantano C, Rinaldi M, Cavazza A, Barbanti D, Corradini C. Results of other steeping strategies on composition, antioxidant property and color of inexperienced, black and oolong tea infusions. J Meals Sci Technol. 2015 Dec;52(12):8276-83. doi:10.1007/s13197-015-1971-4


By Sarah Garone, NDTR

Sarah Garone, NDTR, is a contract well being and wellness author who runs a meals weblog.


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