Health Benefits of Green Tea

You have probably heard a little bit about the benefits of drinking green tea. And though the studies on green tea aren’t cut and dry, there does seem to be a variety of possible health benefits.

Heart Disease
Several major studies suggest that drinking green tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. And though some reports are mixed, it seems that green tea can lower cholesterol. It has not been shown to have much effect on high blood pressure, however.

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Weight Loss
Though most doctors are not willing to jump on board and say green tea helps burn fat, many studies have shown it to be effect in some people. Drinking green tea (or taking those green tea pills) may increase your metabolism and help you lose weight.

Cancer
The catechin extracts from green tea have shown to be effective in cancer prevention in many animal studies. Whether that translates over to humans is still up in the air. The anti-cancer effect of green tea continue to be studied in trials. Other studies have show that green tea can help reduce stress, as well as avoid ailments such as diabetes.

Drink Up
Be aware that most studies that have shown the positive health benefits of drinking green tea recommend at least four cups (and up to 10 cups) of tea per day.  That’s a lot of tea! Be sure to consult your doctor before downing that much. There are several drugs that shouldn’t be combined with green tea, and it may also limit iron absorption. In addition, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid green tea because of the caffeine entering breast milk. When in doubt, call your doctor.