The 5 Amazing Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

October 13, 2023

Courtesy of Tamara Schipchinskaya on Unsplash

While it may seem pretty standard for the average person to get a jumpstart on their day with a cup of coffee, for many around the world, coffee isn’t the drink of choice. Tea is actually considered the most popular drink around the world, which makes sense when you consider all of the amazing health benefits of green tea!

Not only does green tea provide the energy boost one needs to feel energized, but extensive research also shows the numerous benefits that drinking green tea can provide. It seems like a no brainer to add a cup or two to your daily routine!

1. Green tea may improve brain function.

Although caffeine tends to get a bad rap, a 2017 systematic review in Phytomedicine concluded that green tea reduces feelings of anxiety, and benefits cognition such as attention and memory due to the combined influence of caffeine and l-theanine, an amino acid found in tea.

Yet unlike coffee or even black tea, green tea only contains a small amount of caffeine — between 30 to 50 milligrams per 8-ounce cup. So you can still enjoy the benefits of caffeine without the potential side effects of drinking too much, like restlessness or increased heart rate.

2. Green tea may lower the risk of some cancers.

Green tea contains a significant amount of antioxidants, which are known to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the body, which could increase the risk of cancers. Green tea contains 30% polyphenols, a flavanol group found in green tea packed with antioxidants. Green tea specifically has been linked to a reduced risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

3. Green tea may prevent type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the United States with 1.4 million new cases every year. As of 2019, more than 37 million Americans have diabetes (around 1 in 10 people), and 96 million adults over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with prediabetes.

When someone has type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin, which creates insulin resistance. A 2013 meta-analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found green tea may improve insulin sensitivity as well as reduce blood sugar levels, and researchers also found drinking 4 cups of green tea per day can aid with weight loss and lower blood pressure for diabetic patients.

4. Green tea may help with weight loss.

The caffeine in green tea works as a stimulant, which research shows can aid in fat burning. A 2019 review of many randomized controlled trials published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition found caffeine intake might actually promote weight, body fat reduction, and body mass index numbers.

5. Green tea may reduce heart issues.

Green tea is high in flavonoids, which are a group of natural substances typically found in fruits, vegetables, and yes, tea! These flavonoids can help boost heart health by reducing inflammation, lowering blood cholesterol levels, and more. A 2014 meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports also found green tea consumption beneficial for lowering blood pressure thanks to the catechins, part of the polyphenol (antioxidant) family.