Green Tea Benefits: 12 Secret Effects of Drinking Green Tea

Tea is one of the world’s most beloved beverages.

From the Camellia sinensis plant, tea is consumed as green, black, or Oolong tea.

The first green tea was sent from India to Japan in the 17th century.

About 2.5 million tons of tea leaves are produced annually throughout the world. About 20% of those are green tea.

Fresh leaves are immediately steamed to stop fermentation.

The steaming stops the enzymes that break down color pigments in the leaves, so the tea remains green.

Then the leaves are dried to be used in tea. These processes preserve the antioxidants in green tea (1).

The benefits of green tea are now becoming well-known as more research confirms them.

What Is the Healthiest Green Tea?

Many believe that matcha is the healthiest green tea to consume.

The entire green tea leave is ground into a powder and then whisked into hot water.

This allows one to consume the entire tea leaf, rather than steeping and straining the tea leaves.

It is believed that this confers more health benefits to the consumer.

Matcha is popular in Japan but has been spreading around the world.

Is It Safe to Drink Green Tea Everyday?

Generally, consumers can enjoy green tea daily. Pregnant women should limit caffeine consumption to 300 mg or less per day.

One 8 oz serving of green tea contains about 30-50 mg of caffeine (2).

As such, many people can drink green tea daily without any negative consequences.

12 Things That Happen to Your Body When You Drink Green Tea

1. Powerful Antioxidants

Many of the health benefits green tea offers come from the antioxidants found in the leaves.

The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea is one of the most powerful compounds found in beverage.

Studies have found that EGCG can improve heart health, and diabetes, and is anti-inflammatory (3).

Many of the health benefits attributed to drinking green tea are due to the antioxidant content of the beverage.

2. May Help with Weight Loss

In recent years, green tea has been tied to weight loss. And research is now confirming that this may be true.

Green tea may boost metabolism, helping with weight loss efforts.

It is thought that the EGCG and caffeine found in green tea may work together to prevent the development of obesity (4).

Future research is needed to examine exactly how this occurs.

3. Keeps Hearts Healthy

One of the health benefits of green tea may be keeping your heart in tip-top shape.

Studies have shown that green tea may improve both the total cholesterol and LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels in tea drinkers, thereby preventing heart disease (5).

One review found that half of the studies included in its consideration demonstrated positive effects of green tea on heart disease risk profiles (6).

Another study found that moderate tea drinkers demonstrated a slower progression of calcium build-up in arteries, as well as reduced risk for cardiovascular events (7).

Another study followed 40,000 participants for 11 years and found that those who drank at least 5 cups of green tea daily had a lower risk of dying, particularly from heart disease (8).

4. May Aid with Fat Burning

While green tea may help with weight loss overall, it has also been shown to specifically help burn fat.

A 2005 study found that ECGC and caffeine can increase fat burning in subjects (4).

Another study found that two servings of green tea daily reduced abdominal fat in participants (9).

More research is needed to determine how green tea aids with fat loss.

5. Supports a Healthy Immune System

Another benefit of green tea is its support for the immune system.

In fact, several kinds of immune cells in the adaptive and innate immune systems are impacted by EGCG and green tea (10).

More research is needed to determine how drinking green tea works as immune support.

6. Benefits of Brain Health

Green tea may also help another vital organ- the brain. Green tea contains a compound, L-theanine.

This amino acid, L-theanine, has been shown to improve brain function.

This amino acid crosses the blood-brain barrier and enhances a neurotransmitter, GABA, which has been shown to improve anxiety (11).

Additionally, the polyphenols found in green tea have been shown to slow the aging process in the brain and may help protect the brain against disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases (12).

7. May Prevent Cancer

Several studies have shown a link between green tea consumption and a reduced risk of certain types of cancer.

Studies have found that women who consumed more green tea cut their risk of developing breast cancer by 20-30% (13).

A 2015 study found that green tea drinking was linked with a 42% less risk of developing colorectal cancer (14).

Another study found that men who consumed green tea had a decreased risk of developing prostate cancer (15).

More information is needed on how green tea impacts different types of cancer and how much tea to drink for optimum benefits.

8. Stave Off Diabetes

Green tea may also help to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Studies have shown that green tea may help insulin sensitivity, and may decrease blood sugar levels, including fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (16).

The hemoglobin A1c is a marker that shows the three-month average blood sugar levels.

One study found that participants who drank 6 or more cups of green tea per day had a 42% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (17).

There seems to be a link between green tea consumption and a lower risk of diabetes.

More research is needed to understand how and why this happens.

9. May Lower Cholesterol

Aside from overall heart health, green tea may impact our cholesterol levels. Green tea has been linked to reductions in LDL or “bad” cholesterol (18). No reductions were seen in total cholesterol, HDL, or “good” cholesterol.

More research is needed to understand the link between green tea and cholesterol.

10. Reduces Stroke Risk

Drinking either green tea or coffee has been linked to a reduced risk for stroke.

A 2013 study showed that drinking at least one cup of green tea daily positively impacted stroke risk (19).

More studies are needed, but this may be another health benefit of the beverage.

11. Live Long with Green Tea

Want to live a long life?

Perhaps you should brew a cup! One study followed over 40,000 adults for 11 years and found that those who drank 5 or more cups of green tea daily were less likely to die from heart disease, stroke, and all causes (20).

Another study followed 14,000 older adults for 6 years and found that those who drank the greenest tea had a 76% decreased risk of dying of all causes (21).

12. Healthy Skin

Can drinking green tea improve your skin?

A study published in 2007 found that green tea slowed the growth of skin cells and a reduction in the proliferating cell nuclear antigen levels in animal models that are a hallmark of inflammatory skin disorders like dandruff or psoriasis (22).

This indicated that green tea may improve conditions with red, inflamed, and flaky skin.

Others believe that a diet rich in antioxidants, like those found in green tea, can lead to overall healthier skin.

Final Word

Green tea is one of the world’s most popular and oldest beverages. It has been consumed for centuries for its refreshing taste and a host of health benefits.

Recently, scientific study has confirmed many health benefits of consuming green tea, from help with weight loss, anti-aging, heart health, and cancer prevention.

More research is needed to discover exactly how green tea impacts our health, and the optimal amount to consume.

Until then, it is safe for most people to drink at least one cup daily.

References:

1. Chacko, Sabu M, et al. “Beneficial Effects of Green Tea: A Literature Review. (martinwater.com) ” Chinese Medicine, vol. 5, no. 1, 2010, p. 13., doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-13.