The Health Benefits of Green Tea

According to an ancient Chinese legend, a Chinese emperor discovered tea when leaves from a wild tea bush fell into a pot of water he was boiling.

Green tea originates from China, and is also now cultivated in India, Ceylon and Japan. It has recently become popular in Western countries where it has been more traditional to drink black teas.

The health benefits of green tea include decreasing breast cancer risk, reducing LDL cholesterol, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

Health Benefits of Green Tea

LDL Cholesterol Epidemiologic studies suggest that drinking multiple cups of tea per day lowers LDL cholesterol. A double blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 240 men and women with high blood cholesterol concluded that theaflavin (polyphenol found in black tea) enriched green tea extract reduced LDL cholesterol. In a study involving obese subjects, green tea extract led to a reduction in LDL cholesterol.

Type 2 Diabetes Consumption of green tea has been associated with a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, and people who drink green tea regularly are less likely to develop diabetes. The results of a study published in the August 2004 issue of BMC Pharmacology showed that green tea promoted glucose metabolism in the healthy human participants, providing evidence that green tea has an anti diabetes effect.

Cancer Experimental studies have shown that tea and tea polyphenols have anti-carcinogenic properties against breast cancer. A number of epidemiologic (population based) studies have examined the possible association between green tea intake and breast cancer development in humans. The results of these studies indicate a lower risk for breast cancer with green tea consumption. Women with low-activity genotype of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene have a reduced risk of breast cancer compared with those possessing high-activity ACE genotype. A study was conducted involving 297 incident breast cancer cases and 665 control subjects. There was no association between intake of green tea and risk of breast cancer among women with low-activity ACE genotype. Among women with high-activity ACE genotype, however, intake of green tea was associated with a statistically significant decrease in risk of breast cancer. EGCG is the catechin polyphenol in green tea that is thought to be responsible for it’s anti-cancer properties. EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant, inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, with the ability to kill cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. EGCG accomplishes this by inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), which cancer cells need to be able to grow, and which happens to be a target of anti-cancer drugs such as Methotrexate. A recent study among smokers and non-smokers, those who did not drink green tea had a 5.16-fold increased risk of lung cancer compared with those who drank at least one cup of green tea per day. Among smokers, those who did not drink green tea at all had a 12.71-fold increased risk of lung cancer compared with those who drank at least one cup of green tea per day.

Weight Loss Green tea has thermogenic properties (a thermogenic increases the metabolism of the body’s fat), and promotes fat oxidation beyond that explained by its caffeine content. In a recent study of 60 obese subjects, it was concluded that green tea could reduce body weight by increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation. In another study involving obese subjects, it was found that continuous ingestion of a green tea extract led to a reduction in body fat. The three ingredients in green tea that promote fat loss are catechins, caffeine and theanine that work by inhibiting the enzymes that digest triglycerides, which play an important role in metabolism as energy sources and transporters of dietary fat. In a 6-month study of rats that were fed green tea as the sole drinking beverage, it was found that green tea consumption decreases body mass.

Skin It has been suggested that a polyphenolic fraction from green tea may prevent UV radiation-induced skin cancer. There is however insufficient scientific research to back this theory up, and further studies are needed. In a double blind trial of green tea extracts in its role to treat aging skin, participants treated with a combination regimen of topical and oral green tea showed improvement in elastic tissue content.

Tooth Decay Several studies have demonstrated the anti-bacterial properties of green tea polyphenols are an effective agent against tooth decay.

Arthritis In vitro studies show that green tea consumption might benefit arthritis sufferers by reducing inflammation and slowing cartilage breakdown.

Bone Health Researchers have found that green tea contains a group of chemicals that can stimulate bone formation and help slow its breakdown with the potential to help in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

Quality and brewing time are important to derive optimal health benefits from green tea. Mediocre quality tea infused for less than 5 minutes will have polyphenol content 60 times less than a good quality tea brewed for more than 5 minutes.

EGCG Content in different green teas	EGCG concentration (% of leaf weight)
Tikuan yin	0.9%
Pou chong	0.9%
Dong ding	1%
Lung chin	1.5%
Meng ding	1.5%
Paimutan	2%
Yuzan	2%
Yunnan	2%
Matcha	2.8%
Gyokuro	2.9%
Pilo chun emperor	2.9%
Gyokuro #2	4.1%
Sencha #2	4.2%
Sencha #1	4.5%
Gyokuro #2	4.8%
Sencha-uchiyama	5.6%

1. Green tea should not be given to infants and young children.
2. EGCG might be unsafe for pregnant womenRelated Articles


The Health Benefits of Turmeric Turmeric powder is made from the Curcuma longa shrub by fist drying and then crushing the stalk of the plant. Turmeric was used in ancient times on the Indian subcontinent to treat

The Health Benefits of Bananas Brief History of Bananas Nutrients in Bananas Bananas for Cholesterol Reduction Bananas for Blood Pressure Bananas for Reducing Risk of Stroke Bananas for Mood

Bilberry for Diarrhea, Diabetes, Eye Problems and Varicose Veins Bilberry is a relative of the blueberry, and its fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams. It has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine. Bilberry grows in North

The Health Benefits of Soybeans The soybean (Glycine max) originated in China and has been cultivated there for over 13,000 years. It was first introduced into Japan before becoming popular in other Asian countries. Soy

The Health Benefits of Pine Nuts Brief History of Pine Nuts Nutrients in Pine Nuts Pine Nuts for Cholesterol Reduction Pine Nuts for Weight Loss Pine Nuts for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention