Green tea is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. [1] While black and oolong teas are fermented, green tea is made by steaming the plant leaves. Steaming preserves polyphenols, alcohols that are present in plants and neutralize cell- and tissue-damaging free radicals in the body.
Green tea and extracts have been used for avariety of medicinal purposes for many years. [2] Japan received its first shipment of green tea from India in the 1600s. Green tea is most popular in Asia, but is also consumed in other parts of the world, including the United States and Europe. Green tea is packed with nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. [3]
What Is Green Tea Used For?
Green tea is used for: [1, 2 and 3]
- Mental alertness
- Weight loss
- Stomach problems
- Osteoporosis
- Cancer treatment and prevention
- Crohn's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Low blood pressure
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cavities
- Kidney stones
Tea bags are also used to: [1]
Green Tea
- Relieve sunburn
- Prevent skin cancer
- Reduce bags under the eyes
- Relieve headaches
- Treat bleeding gums
An ointment containing green tea is used to treat genital warts. Green tea is also used in tooth paste and makeup.
Green tea is available as a drink or extract. The extract is available in capsule, liquid or ointment form. Doses vary depending on the form used and diagnosis. [1 and 2] Consult your health care provider.
What Are the Benefits of Green Tea?
According to research results, green tea may be effective for: [1 and 2]
- Mental alertness
- Dizziness prevention (when standing up—in older people)
- Genital warts (ointment)
- Cancer delay or prevention—bladder, esophageal, pancreatic and ovarian
- Low blood pressure—in older people who get it following a meal
- Lowering cholesterol and triglycerides
- Lowering the risk of getting Parkinson's disease, or at least putting it off
- Lowers abnormal cell growth in the cervix (cervical dysplasia) due to infection
There isn't enough evidence to recommend green tea for: [1 and 3]
- High blood pressure
- Stroke prevention
- Weight loss
- Osteoporosis
- Breast skin, cervical, gastric, lung, stomach, and prostate cancers (it also might not benefit those with colon cancer)
- Gum disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Heart disease prevention
- Kidney stones
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Leukemia
More studies are needed.
Does Green Tea Interact Adversely With Any Medications, Herbs or Other Supplements?
[1 and 3]
Do not mix green tea with amphetaminesorcocaine as they all speed up the nervous system. This could cause your heart rate and blood pressure to jump up and also make you feel on edge.
Quinolone antibiotics, birth control pills, estrogens,Tagamet, Antabuse, and alcohol can all decrease the time it takes the body to process caffeine, so taking any of them together with green tea could cause jitteriness, headache, increased heart rate and other side effects.
Green tea may also decrease the effectiveness of Velcade, Coumadin, diabetes medication, and folic acid.
Green tea may increase the effects or side effects of Lithium, Fluconazole, Clozapine, Riluzole, Theophylline, and Verapamil. Fluvoxamine, Mexitil, Lamisil, and herbs and supplements that have caffeine, also should not be mixed with green tea, as there is risk of caffeine side effects such as edginess, headache and increased heart rate. Ephedrine also could cause serious side effects and heart problems if taken with green tea.
Green tea may impede the effects of adenosine and dipyridamole, which are both used during cardiac stress tests. Stop using green tea and other caffeinated foods, drinks and supplements at least 24 hours before the test.
Do not take asthma medication (Beta-adrenergic agonists) or phenylpropanolamine with green tea. The caffeine in both may over-stimulate the heart, causing health issues including boosted heart rate and blood pressure, as well as edginess.
Other drugs, food, herbs and supplements not to mix green tea with include:
- Medications, herbs and supplements that can harm the liver
- Medications that hinder blood clotting
- Nicotine
- Cancer medications
- Nembutal
- Bitter orange
- Creatine
- Ephedra (Ma Huang)—mixing the two can be life-threatening.
- Iron
- Milk
More research is needed.
Possible Side Effects of Green Tea
[1 and 2]
- Problems sleeping
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Irritability
- Tremors
- Heartburn
- Dizziness
- Ear ringing
- Convulsions
- Confusion
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Frequent urination
Safety Concerns
[1, 2 and 3]
- Green tea is safe for most adults.
- Green tea extract might be safe for adults, but on a short-term basis only.
- Avoid drinking more than five cups of green tea per day.
- Drinking excessive amounts of green tea can be fatal.
- Normal amounts of green tea may be safe for children. Consult your child's pediatrician.
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, limit yourself to two cups of green tea per day. Higher amounts could lead to complications including miscarriage.
- Green tea may exacerbate anxiety and anemia.
- Green tea may aggravate bleeding disorders.
- If you're a diabetic, go easy on green tea. It may affect blood sugar.
- The caffeine in green tea may aggravate liver disease, high blood pressure, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. Research is mixed regarding the effects it has on the liver. Consult your health care provider.
- If you have osteoporosis, avoid consuming more than 2 to 3 cups or 300 milligrams of green tea per day.
- Avoid green tea if you have experienced renal failure.
Considerations
- Purchase green tea from reputable companies only.
- Inform your health care provider of all supplements and complementary care you use. Discuss proper dosages particular to your symptoms and medical history.
- Herbs and other supplements aren't subject to strict government regulation. Safety, consistency, and effects may vary by brand and batch.
- Consider the significant, positive effects that regular exercise, a balanced diet and an overall healthy lifestyle can have on your mental and physical state.
- Each person is different. Effects of green tea may not be universal. [3]
- Although we don't sell green tea, you can compare quality and price of a variety of brands here at PricePlow.com. Please note that we are not doctors. We take no responsibility for the products listed here since we don't manufacture them.
- Don't take our word for it. Consult other reputable sources such as scientific journals for information on green tea before experimenting with it. Educate yourself about what you put into your body!
Sources:
- "Green Tea;" MedlinePlus; National Library of Medicine; NIH National Institutes of Health
- "Green Tea;" Herbs at a Glance; National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- "Beneficial Effects of Green Tea: A Literature Review;" S. M. Chacko, et.al.; Chinese Medicine, 2010; National Council of Biotechnology Information; U.S. National Library of Medicine; National Institutes of Health
Green Tea News on PricePlow
-
Feb 21, 2024 ![]()
Product News
Swanson Matcha Green Tea - Certified Organic has new variations: Category: Matcha -
Feb 20, 2024 ![]()
Product News
MRM Matcha Green Tea has new variations: Categories: Green Tea, Matcha -
Feb 01, 2024 ![]()
Product News
MRM Matcha Green Tea was created.
Categories: Green Tea, Matcha -
Jan 11, 2024 ![]()
Product News
Nutricost Organic Matcha Powder was created.
Category: Matcha -
Sep 13, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Swanson Rooibos Red Tea has new variations: Category: Green Tea -
Sep 12, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Swanson Rooibos Red Tea was created.
Category: Green Tea -
Aug 13, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Flora Bija Green Tea Chai was created.
Category: Green Tea -
Jun 18, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Swanson Green Tea has new variations: Category: Green Tea -
Jun 15, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Swanson Matcha Green Tea - Certified Organic was created.
Category: Matcha -
Apr 14, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Swanson Green Tea was created.
Category: Green Tea -
Apr 13, 2023 ![]()
Product News
Swanson 100% Organic Green Tea was created.
Category: Green Tea -
Jan 14, 2023 ![]()
YouTube Video
Great-Tasting Superfoods Powder? Kaged Outlive 100 Now in Lemon! -
Oct 23, 2022 ![]()
Product News
Irwin Naturals Green Tea Fat Burner RED was created.
Categories: Fat Burners, Green Tea -
Oct 23, 2022 ![]()
Product News
Irwin Naturals Green Tea Fat Burner was created.
Categories: Fat Burners, Green Tea -
Dec 01, 2021 ![]()
YouTube Video
Old-School Fat Burning Meets CaloriBurn: ALLMAX Rapidcuts Thermo Stimulant-Free -
Sep 19, 2019 ![]()
Blog Post
PricePlow’s Best Fat Burner Buyer’s Guide, with 2020’s Top 5
What's the best fat burner? It depends on what YOU want! So we ask a few questions, and present the options. We also have our Top 10 Fat Burners list -
Feb 20, 2017 ![]()
Blog Post
Beldt Labs SKALD: Oxydynamic Fat Scorcher Heats Up Amazon
Beldt Labs SKALD: Oxydynamic Fat Scorcher is a unique weight loss supplement that burns fat and enhances respiratory function all in one simple scoop! -
Feb 13, 2017 ![]()
Blog Post
sho Nutrition Energy+: Natural Energy Boost with Light Caffeine
sho Nutrition Energy+ naturally restores and supports energy production through a unique mixture of natural caffeine and B Vitamins. -
Jan 23, 2017 ![]()
Blog Post
sho Nutrition: Easy-to-Use Supplements You Can Swallow!
sho Nutrition has developed an incredibly unique way to remember to take your daily supplements, and they're easy to open and swallow too! -
Mar 07, 2016 ![]()
Blog Post
Cyclosome: New Age Liposome + Cyclodextrin Delivery System
Cyclosome is the next generation supplement delivery system by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, which uses a combination of Liposome and Cyclodextrin! -
Nov 18, 2015 ![]()
Blog Post
MTS Tyrant – Marc Lobliner’s Estrogen & Cortisol Controller
Marc Lobliner and MTS have released MTS Tryant, an all new estrogen and cortisol control supplement that contains phosphatidylserine and DIM. -
Aug 16, 2015 ![]()
Blog Post
Instant Knockout Fat Burner: Is this Worth $59??
Instant Knockout is a fat burner getting HEAVILY promoted online, selling for $59.99. Is it worth that? We analyze the Instant Knockout Ingredients. -
Jan 14, 2014 ![]()
Blog Post
Protein Window Myth BUSTED: Nutrition News Jan 14, 2014
Tons of news in the nutrition world lately, including some major research published by Alan Aragon about the "protein window"!
Sign up for future Green Tea news!
Click the button below to sign up for future Green Tea news, deals, coupons, and reviews!
Green Tea Reviews & Videos
-
Jan 14, 2023Great-Tasting Superfoods Powder? Kaged Outlive 100 Now in Lemon!
![Great-Tasting Superfoods Powder? Kaged Outlive 100 Now in Lemon!]()
-
Dec 01, 2021Old-School Fat Burning Meets CaloriBurn: ALLMAX Rapidcuts Thermo Stimulant-Free
![Old-School Fat Burning Meets CaloriBurn: ALLMAX Rapidcuts Thermo Stimulant-Free]()
Subscribe for more Green Tea news and alerts!
Subscribe to PricePlow on YouTube, follow PricePlow on Instagram or click the button below to sign up for our latest Green Tea news and reviews!
