what benefits do you get from drinking green tea?

Answer 1

Proponents of green tea note that its medicinal benefits have been described for over 1000 years. The Kissa Yojoki, or Book of Tea, written by Zen priest Eisai in 1191, describes how drinking green tea can have a positive effect on the five vital organs, especially the heart. The book discusses tea's medicinal qualities, which include easing the effects of alcohol, acting as a stimulant, curing blotchiness, quenching thirst, eliminating indigestion, curing beriberi disease, preventing fatigue, and improving urinary and brain function. Part One also explains the shapes of tea plants, tea flowers, and tea leaves, and covers how to grow tea plants and process tea leaves. In Part Two, the book discusses the specific dosage and method required for individual physical ailments.

In more recent times, many studies have investigated a link between the consumption of green tea and a lower incidence of a range of cancers in populations, with mixed results. Green tea enthusiasts believe it to be useful for:

Cognition
Stopping certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's
Preventing/treating cancer
Treating arthritis
Treating multiple sclerosis
Preventing the degradation of cell membranes by neutralizing the spread of free radicals (which occurs during the process of oxidation). [1]
Increases fat oxidation (helps the body use fat as an energy source) and raises metabolism. [2]
Lowering LDL cholesterol (in high doses in lab tests)
Preventing lowered T-Cells due to HIV - In lab tests, EGCG, found in green tea, was found to prevent HIV from attacking T-Cells. However, it is not known if this has any effect on humans yet. [3]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected claims of health benefits for green tea. [4]

"There is no credible scientific evidence that drinking green tea reduces the risk of heart disease."
"FDA concludes there is no credible evidence to support qualified health claims for green tea or green tea extract and a reduction of a number of risk factors associated with CVD" (cardiovascular disease)."
The FDA has said that green tea likely does not reduce breast, prostate, or any other type of cancer risk.
[The text below describes studies that show an association between drinking tea and better health, but they do not demonstrate that drinking tea causes better health. It may just be that healthy people like tea.]

Contradicting the FDA, a 2006 study published in the September 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that adults who consumed three or more cups of green tea per day had a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. The study, conducted by the Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Japan, followed 40,530 Japanese adults, ages 40-79, with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer at baseline beginning in 1994. The study followed all participants for up to 11 years for death from all causes and for up to seven years for death from a specific cause. Participants who consumed five or more cups of tea per day had a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 26 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than participants who consumed less than one cup of tea per day. The study also states, "If green tea does protect humans against CVD or cancer, it is expected that consumption of this beverage would substantially contribute to the prolonging of life expectancy, given that CVD and cancer are the two leading causes of death worldwide."

A 2006 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Vol. 83, pp 355-361) showed that elderly Japanese people who drank more than 2 cups of green tea a day had a 50 percent lower chance of having cognitive impairment than those who drank less or who consumed other tested beverages. [5] The high amount of catechins found in green tea[6] is thought to be the reason.

In May 2006, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine weighed in on the issue[7] with a review article that looked at more than 100 studies on the health benefits of green tea. They pointed to what they called an "Asian paradox," which refers to lower rates of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite high rates of cigarette smoking. They theorized that the 1.2 liters of green tea that is consumed by many Asians each day provides high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. These compounds may work in several ways to improve cardiovascular health, including preventing blood platelets from sticking together and improving cholesterol levels, said the researchers, whose study appeared in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Specifically, green tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" type), which, in turn, can reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries, the researchers wrote.

Green tea has also been claimed to reduce stress and produce alpha waves. This is thought to be due to high antioxidant levels and the presence of l-theanine, which is a glutamate analog present in green tea that can cross the blood-brain barrier and reduce glutamate excitotoxicity during stress and ischemia. [8]

A German study found that an extract of green tea and hot water (filtered), applied externally to the skin for 10 minutes, three times a day could help people with skin damaged from radiation therapy (after 16-22 days). A study in Japan indicated that people ages 40-79 who drank five or more cups a day were 16 percent less likely to die within the 11-year study period, compared to people who drank only one cup a day. [9]

Green tea is also a potent fat burner. People who took green tea extract three times a day saw their metabolic rate increase by about 4 percent, according to a study published in the December 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. [10]


Joy Bauer, a New York City nutritionist, says green tea contains catechins, which increase levels of the metabolism speeding brain chemical norepinephrine.[11]

Japanese researchers claim if you drink five cups of green tea a day, you'll burn 70 to 80 extra calories. Dr. Nicholas Perricone , the anit-aging specialist, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show and told Oprah's viewers they can lose 6 lbs. In 10 weeks drinking green tea instead of coffee

Answer 2

I love Green Tea. My dad and I drink it a lot. It has no fat in it and it's better for you then brew tea that has sugar in it. Some people dont like it because it tastes bad but I like the taste. There is a Green Tea that you can only get in small bottles it has citrus in it and that's pretty good. That's lemon and orange. As far as I know you can only get that at convinece stores but it's pretty good. I like the orgianal one as well. Green Tea has no fat in it. That's how it's good for people but some people don't want to drink it because they think it tastes bad that's why I say try the one with the cirus it's pretty good.

Answer 3

Well, first of all, it's a yummy way to get all your liquids for teh day. Secondly, it has an antioxident called EGCG that is believed to be responsible for raising your metabolism. That has not been definately proven yet, but it's worth a shot. It's the same antioxident found in dark chocolate, but much lower in calories... ♥

Answer 4

For weight loss it's good. It's best to drink the green tea without sugar and make sure it's kinda warm.

Answer 5

I know it helps to prevent some cancers. There is nothing in green tea that is bad for you that's for sure.

Answer 6

Cancer fighting anti-oxidants and it has been proven to increase metabolic functions. Also, it makes me run to the mens room all day long, so it also cleanses the kidneys and urinary system. I drink green tea with jasmine all day long and absolutely love it.

Answer 7

Green tea has anti oxidants in it which clean out your body and make you feel better it also has no sugar and things like that.

Answer 8

It be a Japanese thing.
They live longer than normal folk.
Herbal remedies will be the life of them folk.
I hate Japanese folk.

Answer 9

Clean kidneys..

Answer 10

it has antioxidants in it, helps your immune system, and speeds up your metabolism

Answer 11

It helps to lose weight...........helps the metabolism. it's yummy too