It is difficult to say if green tea is better for you than coffee. Dr. Brunilda Nazario on WebMD says that coffee also has health benefits when consumed in moderation. Both green tea and coffee contain caffeine, antioxidants, and polyphenols. These combined compounds have many health benefits. (4)
Because green tea is not an herbal tea and it contains caffeine, many people avoid drinking green tea before going to bed. However, some studies point to the fact that low-caffeine green tea can improve the quality of sleep and have a calming effect on the mind. (5)
Starting your day with a freshly brewed cup of green tea is a great way to start the day as it can boost your metabolism and give you more energy.
Green Tea Nutrition
Most of the health benefits of drinking green tea come from its high levels of antioxidants.
Green tea contains antioxidant compounds called polyphenols and catechins. For example, flavanols (a type of polyphenol) make up about 30% of the weight of dried green tea leaves. Also, green tea contains a powerful catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG for short. (1)
Researchers have noted that it is not just one antioxidant in green tea that is beneficial. The health-promoting effects of green tea are due to a “synergistic” effect that is the combination of many antioxidant compounds.
Green tea also contains L-theanine, an important amino acid which has a stimulating effect on the brain and can improve cognitive health. Scientists have discovered that L-theanine from tea is unique in that it helps to relax the mind without drowsiness. (6)
Also, the benefits of EGCG in green tea have been linked to improved cardiovascular health. (7)
Green tea also contains trace amounts of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins B, C, and E. (8)
Health Benefits of Green Tea
Let’s look in more detail at the many ways you can use green tea to boost your health and make your skin look better.
Green Tea for Weight Loss
Green tea extracts and natural green tea have the potential to help you lose weight quicker and boost your metabolism. There are 0 calories in a cup of green tea without any additive (such as milk or sugar) so it’s a great hydrating drink.
Much research has been done on the fat-burning potential of green tea extracts. Many people buy green tea supplements for weight loss or increase their daily intake of hot green tea.
What does scientific research say about the effects of green tea on losing weight?
Green tea catechins together with caffeine can boost your metabolism (green tea has thermogenic properties). For example, one small study showed that green tea significantly boosted energy expenditure in men. The researchers concluded that “green tea has thermogenic properties and promotes fat oxidation beyond what explained by its caffeine content per se.” (25)
The book Antioxidants in Sport Nutrition reported that one cup of green tea contains about 40 mg of caffeine and up to 100 mg of catechins. A review of many clinical trials revealed that green tea catechins together with caffeine can make you slimmer because they increase energy expenditure and fat metabolism. This effect of green tea can benefit both active individuals and sedentary ones. (26)
Some studies show that green tea extracts can help to boost your efforts in losing weight. For example, green tea supplementation can help to burn more fat (increase fat oxidation) during exercising. Green tea also improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. (39)
Other research has found that green tea extract containing 583 mg of catechins helped to burn fat and can help fight against obesity. For example, a trial involving men and women found that green tea extract with high catechin content helped lower body weight and reduce body fat in a 12-week period. (40)
The study found that green tea extract has the added advantage in helping to improve your cardiovascular health while losing weight. Researchers concluded that long-term consumption of catechins from green tea can help lower blood pressure and reduce body fat in men and women. (40)
Another study looked at the anti-obesity effects of three major components of green tea: catechins, caffeine and L-theanine. It concluded that caffeine and L-theanine in green tea can help prevent weight gain and fat accumulation. (46)
However, other studies have proved inconclusive and say that green tea is only beneficial for short-term weight loss. (45)
You can boost the weight loss properties of green tea by adding some lemon juice to your tea. There are some scientific studies about using lemon juice for weight loss.
Green Tea Benefits for Your Skin
The antioxidants in green tea benefit your skin, help prevent the appearance of fine lines and have anti aging effect.
