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, among other benefits. Green tea comes from unoxidized leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. It is one of the least processed types of tea, containing the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols. Some research suggests green tea may positively affect weight loss, liver disorders, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. However, more evidence is necessary for researchers to definitively prove these health benefits. This article lists some potential health benefits and types of green tea, its nutrition content, and the potential side effects.
Cancer prevention
In countries with high green tea consumption, some cancer rates tend to be lower. However, human studies have not shown consistent evidence that drinking green tea reduces the overall risk of cancer. A 2020 database review of epidemiological and experimental studies in humans produced inconsistent results and limited evidence of green tea’s benefits for lowering cancer risk. The researchers assessed 142 completed studies, including over 1 million participants. 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. A 2020 review suggests green tea catechins have some positive impacts on the following types of cancer:
- breast
- colorectal
- esophageal
- lung
- prostate
- liver
Overall, more research on humans is necessary to prove the benefit of green tea on the overall risk of cancer.
Weight loss
A 2021 review suggests green tea and the catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) it contains may help people with obesity to reduce their body weight. A further review 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.
Inflammatory skin conditions
Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties. Research highlights the anti-inflammatory effects of green tea. A 2019 analysis of tea extract in cosmetics determined that solutions including tea extracts promoted anti-inflammatory responses when applied topically. The authors also found that skin microcirculation improved in the affected areas.
Lower cholesterol
A 2020 review concluded that green tea consumption can significantly lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in people with moderate weight, overweight, or obesity. However, the authors highlight the need for more research, particularly longer studies with more diverse populations.
Stroke risk
According to a 2021 study, drinking large amounts of green tea without sugar may reduce the risk of death after a stroke or heart attack. A 2023 review and meta-analysis also associates moderate green tea consumption with a lower risk of stroke after evaluating five studies with 645,393 participants and 11,421 incidents of stroke.
Type 2 diabetes
Studies concerning the relationship between green tea and diabetes have been inconsistent. Some have suggested a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in people who drink green tea than in those who consume no tea. One study of people in China associated daily green tea consumption with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. It also associated daily green tea consumption with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in people with diabetes. However, another long-term study of 119,373 adults without diabetes in China suggests that people who drank green tea had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those who did not drink it. The researchers suggest the risk increased with the amount of tea and duration of drinking it. Further research is necessary to fully determine the relationship between diabetes risk and green tea.
Alzheimer’s disease
According to a 2019 systematic review, current research generally supports the hypothesis that green tea may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This may be due to the neuroprotective effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative stress, of certain catechins in green tea. However, further research is necessary to strengthen this evidence.
Types of green tea
Green tea is available in many types and forms, including:
- bottled and sweetened with sugar or an artificial sweetener
- single tea bags
- loose leaf
- instant powder
- green tea supplements, in capsule form or as liquid extracts
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