What are the health benefits of green tea?

As the weather turns colder a cup of hot tea can be welcoming after a walk in the cold or as a soothing hot drink on a cold winter’s day.  Are there any health benefits to drinking green tea?  There are many.  So often people say “eat healthy” and then we think of all the foods we need to eliminate from our day.  But there are many foods and drinks you can add to your day that add health benefits.  And adding in some green tea is one of those things. 

What are some health benefits of green tea?

Green tea can lower your bad cholesterol.  In my blog, How to lower your bad cholesterol , I talked about how the “bad” cholesterol can build up in your arteries and lead to heart attacks or stroke.  Cutting back on foods with saturated fat is one way to lower your bad cholesterol.  But did you know that drinking some green tea can help lower your bad cholesterol?   

In a study published in the Nutrition Journal, of over 3000 subjects, they found drinking green tea lowered both total cholesterol and the “bad” LDL cholesterol.  This study did note, however, that people with kidney stones due to oxalates may not want to indulge in green tea. 

Green tea and heart health

In a study in Japan of 40,000 adults, that researchers followed for over 11 years, they found that people who drink green tea every day had a lower risk of death from heart disease.  But one needed to drink quite a bit of green tea to achieve this benefit with the minimum being 5 cups a day. 

Green tea and strokes

In another Japanese study, that followed over 82,000 participants for over 13 years, drinking green tea lowered one’s risk of a stroke.  But the most benefit was seen in those who drank more than 4 cups a day.  Green tea has been shown to help lower blood pressure which reduces the risk of a stroke and reduces heart disease risk. 

Does green tea reduce the risk of cancer?

The benefits for green tea reducing cancer risk are mixed. 

Green tea and healthy skin

Green tea can help make your skin “bright and healthy looking”.  How?  Green tea can reduce inflammation, redness and may help fight skin damage from the sun and may prevent sagging skin.  Medical News Today notes that antioxidants such as the antioxidants found in green tea, “may help protect and rejuvenate the skin, for example by promoting collagen production”. 

Why is green tea good for your health?

One reason is the healthy antioxidants in green tea.  As noted in previous blog posts, fruits and vegetables are loaded with healthy phytochemicals which act as antioxidants that help our bodies fight cancer and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.  What makes green tea so special?  Medical News Today notes that green tea is a tea that is the least processed and thus contains “the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols”.   

How much green tea is safe?

As noted above people who drank 4-5 cups of green tea a day had lower risks of heart disease and strokes.  But how much is too much?  WebMD notes, “Green tea, when drunk at a moderate rate of 8 cups per day or less, is considered safe for most adults”.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I would ever exceed 8 cups a day. One or two cups a day is about all I drink but I may need to increase this to get better health benefits.  Pregnant women should limit green tea consumption to no more than one or two cups a day because of the caffeine in green tea.  There is a decaffeinated green tea for those concerned about caffeine. 

This winter, enjoy a cup or two of green tea.  So many health benefits and a cup of hot tea on a cold day is a refreshing treat.

Sources:  How to lower your bad cholesterol , Nutrition Journal , study , Japanese study , lower blood pressure , Does green tea reduce the risk of cancer?  , make your skin , blog posts , Medical News Today ,  antioxidants , WebMD , Pregnant women  Images: green tea , Decaffeinated green tea  , health benefits