These health benefits have been popular in traditional medicine for thousands of years, with Chinese and Indian medicine using green tea to improve both physical and mental health. Experimental science is now increasingly investigating these impressive claims.
Read on to learn the specific, science-backed benefits of green tea.
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Researchers evaluating in vitro, in vivo, and human studies taking place over the course of 30 years found evidence of positive effects in both animal and human cells. This included reduced cancer incidence in the general population, lower recurrence rates of cancer in stage 1 and 2 cancer patients, and tertiary cancer protection when paired alongside anticancer drugs.
Researchers also found that habitual consumption of green tea over a 10-year period could lead to a delayed onset of cancer of up to 7.3 years later than those who drank less.
However, more consistent evidence is required to definitively prove that green tea reduces the overall risk from all cancers and development stages. A 2020 database review of studies found that results were inconsistent in confirming the anticancer benefits of green tea.
One 2019 review of epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies suggests that tea consumption is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risks.
The observed health effects of the consumption of tea compounds included protection against the development of cardiovascular disease. Regularly drinking green tea also demonstrated a decreased incidence of cardiovascular events and a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
One significant component of green tea is a group of compounds called polyphenols, a powerful type of antioxidant that has been observed to benefit health with their neutralization of free radicals and
Unbalanced levels of free radicals can lead to oxidative stress. This can be harmful over prolonged periods of time, potentially causing cell damage.
Green tea is particularly high in these antioxidant polyphenol compounds, suggesting the potential for significant health impacts with its consumption.
A 2020 collective review of both animal and human clinical applications of tea polyphenols across 104 studies supports the health benefits of green tea and its compounds. Researchers found that tea polyphenols do have significant antioxidative function, though they called for further studies.
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However, it is noted that further investigation with larger patient numbers and more control for application is needed to verify the true efficacy of green tea treatments in most dermatological treatments.
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- anxiety
- memory and attention
- general brain function
There has been an increasing amount of discussion on the effects of green tea on obesity and weight loss, with traditional medicine having claimed its weight reduction properties for years.
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However, this review also outlines an inconsistency of results, with efficacy being influenced by other factors such as the presence of caffeine in green tea supplements, patient hormone levels, diet and exercise factors, and genetic backgrounds.
This inconsistency was also found by a
Some positive effects of green tea compounds on diabetes have been observed in animals.
The results for humans, however, were inconsistent with the findings for other animals and did not indicate such positive results against obesity and diabetes, potentially due to the difference in animal biofunctions. Researchers also noted that further human clinical trials should aim to develop alternative and safer treatment options against type 2 diabetes.
In line with evidence that green tea may offer several positive health benefits, it has also been observed that drinking green tea may improve people’s overall length of life.
In addition to other health benefits, research has also suggested that green tea can improve gut health.
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Tea preparation methods will vary according to the product. To yield the most beneficial green tea antioxidants, some research shows that brewing green tea at lower temperatures with a longer steeping time is ideal.
However, if a lengthy brewing time is not always practical, or if you prefer to avoid the bitter taste associated with a long brew, brewing your tea with freshly boiled water for just a few minutes
Green tea comes with an extensive list of evidence outlining its potential health benefits. Positive health impacts may include heart health, cancer prevention, longer life, better skin and gut health, weight loss, and improved mental function.
While more investigation is needed to definitively confirm some of these observations, particularly to establish efficacy and consumption amounts, green tea offers a powerful dose of antioxidants and is low in caffeine compared to other caffeinated drinks.
