What are the health benefits of green tea?
People have hailed the health benefits of green tea for centuries. Studies suggest that consuming green tea may positively affect skin health, help with weight loss, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
According to a report from the International Institute of Sustainable Development, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water.
All tea types, except herbal, are brewed from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. The level of oxidation of the leaves determines the type of tea.
Green tea is made from unoxidized leaves and is one of the least processed types of tea. For this reason, it contains the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols.
People used green tea in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health, and regulate body temperature.
Studies suggest that green tea may have positive effects on weight loss, liver disorders, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
However, it is important to note that more evidence is necessary before scientists can definitively prove these possible health benefits.
People used green tea in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine to control bleeding and heal wounds, aid digestion, improve heart and mental health, and regulate body temperature.
Studies suggest that green tea may have positive effects on weight loss, liver disorders, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
However, it is important to note that more evidence is necessary before scientists can definitively prove these possible health benefits.
In countries where green tea consumption is high, some cancer rates tend to be lower. However, human studies have not shown consistent evidence to prove that drinking green tea reduces the overall risk of cancer.
A 2020 database review of epidemiological and experimental studies in humans produced inconsistent results as well as limited evidence of the benefit of green tea consumption for lowering the risk of cancer. The researchers assessed 142 completed studies, including 1.1 million participants.
However, the topical application of green tea polyphenol extracts may have a role in protecting the skin from UVB radiation. A 2018 review of in vitro, in vivo, and human studies demonstrated the potential benefits of tea polyphenols in the chemoprevention of UVB-induced skin cancer.
Animal and test tube cell studies have suggested some positive impacts on the following types of cancer:
- breast
- bladder
- ovarian
- colorectal (bowel)
- esophageal (throat)
- lung
- prostate
- skin
- stomach
Overall findings from numerous human studies have yielded inconsistent results and limited evidence of the benefit of drinking green tea on the overall risk of cancer.
In countries where green tea consumption is high, some cancer rates tend to be lower. However, human studies have not shown consistent evidence to prove that drinking green tea reduces the overall risk of cancer.
A
However, the topical application of green tea polyphenol extracts may have a role in protecting the skin from UVB radiation. A
- breast
- bladder
- ovarian
- colorectal (bowel)
- esophageal (throat)
- lung
- prostate
- skin
- stomach
Overall findings from numerous human studies have yielded inconsistent results and limited evidence of the benefit of drinking green tea on the overall risk of cancer.
A review of several studies found that the catechins in green tea and caffeine may have a role in increasing energy metabolism, which may lead to weight loss.
A further meta-analysis of several different tea polyphenols-induced weight loss mechanisms suggested that catechins and caffeine synergistically produced weight loss effects, as opposed to them being the result of caffeine alone.
However, the impact of drinking green tea on weight loss is unlikely to be of clinical importance. Most studies that have shown small changes in metabolism used green tea extracts with extremely high concentrations of catechins.
Learn more about how green tea can help with weight loss here.
A review of several studies found that the catechins in green tea and caffeine may have a role in increasing energy metabolism, which may lead to weight loss.
A further
However, the impact of drinking green tea on weight loss is unlikely to be of clinical importance. Most studies that have shown small changes in metabolism used green tea extracts with extremely high concentrations of catechins.
Learn more about how green tea can help with weight loss here.