7 Health Benefits of Green Tea

While tea is a popular around the world (especially a "proper brew" in the UK), there are tons of variations. One of the most popular, both historically and today, is green tea. Whether thanks to its taste or its wide range of health benefits, you can find green tea in several forms and usually in your local supermarket.

While you might know that it’s a healthy choice, do you really know all of its potential health benefits? This article presents some of the best proven health benefits of drinking green tea.

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What is Green Tea?

Most tea consumed throughout the world comes from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis. The variations of white tea, green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are all based on the degree of fermentation and processing.¹

Green tea is the unfermented, or the second least processed form, and much of the world’s green tea comes from China. Only white tea undergoes less processing, but isn’t grown long enough to develop some of the powerful compounds of green tea.

Health Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea naturally contains catechins - a specific type of flavonoid (from polyphenols), or plant-based nutrient, that holds powerful antioxidants. Catechins make up most of the solid part of the green tea leaf and are the driving force behind many of the health benefits associated with green tea.²

Green tea contains four main catechins, with the most prominent being EGCG.²

1. Green tea shows strong antioxidant activity

The EGCG in green tea has been shown to play a major role in reducing cell damage and growth of potentially harmful cells that may occur from oxidation or other types of cell damage.²

While this area is still being investigated, you can think of antioxidants like preventive medicine to help protect your body from damage related to disease or aging. 

2. Green tea may prevent heart disease

Long-term studies of large groups in Japan showed lower risk of cardiovascular disease in people who drank more green tea each day versus those who did not.³

While the amounts of tea consumed in several studies related to heart disease varied, the overall trend is better cardiovascular health in people who regularly drink green tea.³

3. Green tea may improve blood flow 

Researchers think that green tea may improve blood flow, and in turn, prevent many heart-related diseases.²

The overall benefit to heart health and prevention is a primary reason to consume green tea.

4. Green tea may help reduce body fat 

In another study that focused on heart health, it was found that green tea extract helped participants reduce their body fat by about 10%.³

A 10% reduction in body fat, especially in those who are overweight or obese, can have a significant impact on reducing risk of chronic illnesses. 

5. Green tea may help with weight loss 

A loss in body fat is a key for losing weight, especially when you want to preserve lean body mass. Green tea has a naturally pleasant flavour and is low in calories - if you can drink it without adding sweeteners, it's a low calorie, natural energy boost that can support a lower calorie intake, too.

6. Green tea could help reduce inflammation 

While cardiovascular disease is often associated with inflammation, there are many other conditions like joint pain and skin conditions that are impacted by inflammation.²

The strong antioxidant effect linked with anti-inflammatory properties give green tea lots of promise for those who struggle with these types of health conditions.

7. Green tea shows antimicrobial properties 

Green tea has been shown to help fight bacteria and potentially prevent infection.²

It’s been linked to stopping bacteria on a cellular level as well as viruses and fungi.² Preventing infection is a key way to stay healthy. This might also be the reason green tea can help prevent bad breath.²