Green Tea Party

The health benefits of green tea have been extensively researched.  The health benefits include protection against coronary artery disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and periodontal disease.  It has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes.

Why is green tea so beneficial?  It contains a high concentration of beneficial phytonutrients called catechins and their derivatives.  The most abundant is epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG for short.  The antioxidant power has been found to be even better than that of vitamin C.  Catechins are antibacterial so they support a strong immune system.

How much should you drink for the health benefits?

Most of the research was based on about three cups per day.  There are many green tea products on the market in loose leaf and tea bags.   If you are going to add green tea to your diet, I recommend learning about brewing green tea from loose leaf.  Loose leaf is typically fresher and higher quality.  A good introduction can be found in the video, Brewing Green Tea About Brewing Green Tea.

There have not been any tests relating to the content of catechins in different brands of green tea.  I think it is likely that fresh tea from any reputable vendor should have a respectable amount of catechins, although it will vary. Tea that has been allowed to go stale will certainly be lower in catechins.  Green tea is readily available in tea shops, health food stores, nutrition supplement stores, and most grocery chains.

Green tea does contain caffeine, about 25 mg compared to 145 mg in an average cup of coffee.   There are several health conditions and medications with contraindications for caffeinated beverages, so be sure to check with your doctor before including it in your diet.