What Makes Green Tea So Healthy Anyway?

Green tea is a feel-good, fuel-good drink. Whether you’ve ordered a venti green tea at a Starbucks drive-thru or made one at home, green tea not only tastes good, but has some health benefits. No matter if you like your tea hot or cold, we’re rounding up all the details on what makes green tea so great. 

What are the Health Benefits of Green Tea?

There are numerous health benefits to drinking green tea. In traditional Eastern medicine, it has been used for thousands to treat various health-related issues, including headaches and mood disorders. Nowadays, research has shown green tea may help to boost energy levels, and benefit the heart. 

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health green tea: 

• Contains caffeine, making it a great alternative to coffee and other energy drinks. Drinking caffeinated beverages not only fuels you up, but may prevent mental decline. A 2016 study highlighted that caffeine effectively offsets the physical and cognitive effects that occur with lack of sleep.

• May benefit heart health. A 2020 study looked at 31 trials with over 3000 subjects suggesting consumption can lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. 

When it comes to cancer, green tea is neither helpful nor harmful in reducing cancer risk. According to The National Cancer Institute, the studies are inconsistent due to how the tea is prepared, genetic variation on how people respond to tea consumption, and methods of tea production. Green tea does contain antioxidants that prevent tumor formation in animal studies, but the results are inconsistent in human studies. 

Additional potential health benefits of drinking green tea include the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, favor the growth of good gut bacteria while inhibiting harmful ones, and decrease fasting blood sugar levels.

Green Tea, Black Tea—What’s the Difference? 

Both green and black tea come from the same plant, but green tea is processed differently. To make green tea, the young leaves of Camellia sinensis plant are steamed, pan-fried, and dried to produce a minimally oxidized product full of antioxidant compounds with health-promoting benefits. Though the concentration of antioxidants can vary based on cultivation and environment, green tea contains more antioxidants than black tea. 

Depending on how green tea is cultivated and the environment in which it is grown, green tea can taste slightly bitter, grassy, or even floral. 

How Do I Make Green Tea?

Green tea is easy to make; you only need a tea bag or sachet and a cup of warm water. Place the tea bag in a teacup, pour in the warm water, let it steep for a few minutes, and enjoy. To jazz up your tea, add a few lemon slices, honey, or ice cubes to turn it into iced green tea. 

If brewing loose leaf green tea:

1. Look for tea sold in tin canisters or sacks. This helps to retain freshness and allows you to control how much tea to use.
2. Choose a pot that is large enough that the leaves can fully expand. This ensures proper seepage.  
3. Pay attention to the time. Your tea should come with brewing instructions

There are five things to avoid to keep your bagged or loose-leaf tea as fresh as possible: light, heat, moisture, odor, and air. Store your tea in its original container. Make sure to put the airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place.

If you’re looking for other ways to enjoy green tea, try these recipes:

• Fruit Infused Iced Green Tea (48 calories, 0g total fat, 0mg sodium, 12g total carb, 11g sugar)
• Green Tea Latte (58 calories, 1.2g total fat, 75mg sodium, 12g total carb, 11g sugar)
• Iced Green Tea with Fresh Mint  (0 calories, 0g total fat, 0mg sodium, 0g total carb, 0g sugar)

The Bottom Line:

Green tea may boost your energy levels and provide health-promoting antioxidants. Whether you decide to DIY or grab a cup from your local coffee shop, green tea can be a healthful addition to any diet.