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
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