Green tea may help support cognition and weight management, boost energy, and offer some protection against cancer.

Green tea is touted as one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, and it may have many potential health benefits.

Here are 10 possible health benefits of green tea.

5 Benefits of Green Tea Backed by Science
Green tea is touted to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. This video shares the many health benefits of green tea.
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Green tea contains a type of polyphenol called a catechin. Catechins are antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provideTrusted Source other health benefits.

The most well-known and abundant catechin in green tea is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which research has found may be involved in improving various health conditions or markers of disease.

Research suggests that drinking green tea may benefit cognition, mood, and brain function, possibly due to compounds in green tea like caffeine and L-theanine.

A 2020 study also suggested that green tea is linked with a 64%Trusted Source lower chance of cognitive impairment in middle-aged and older adults.

That said, more human studies are needed to further explore this effect.

A 2022 review found that green tea’s ability to positively influence metabolism is enhanced with aerobic or resistance exercise.

That said, the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary SupplementsTrusted Source suggests that while some studies do show an ability for green tea to improve how your body breaks down fat, its overall effect on weight loss is likely to be small.

While the evidence is mixed and inconsistent, researchTrusted Source has linked drinking green tea with a reduced chance of developing some types of cancer, such as lung cancer or ovarian cancer.

A 2020 review found that while experimental research shows a modest beneficial effect, scientists could not conclude any consistent effects of green tea on overall cancer likelihood. Additional high quality research is needed.

A 2020 studyTrusted Source showed that green tea was linked with lower levels of certain markers related to Alzheimer’s disease in people without current, known cognitive issues. Compounds such as EGCG and L-theanine may be responsible.

However, a 2023 study reported that drinking too much, 13 cups or more per day (all types of tea), could increase the chance of Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical evidence on how exactly green tea affects the human brain is lacking.

A 2021 reviewTrusted Source of studies found that drinking green tea or using green tea extract may be linked to better oral health.

However, most of the research on this subject did not examine human subjects. While results are promising, more clinical research in humans is needed.

A 2020 reviewTrusted Source found that green tea may help reduce blood sugar while fasting in the short term but does not seem to have an effect on blood sugar or insulin in the long term.

A 2021 study on Chinese adults also suggested a 10% lower chance of death from type 2 diabetes for those who drink it daily.

Other reviews found no effects on any markers of blood sugar management in people with type 2 diabetes, so the findings are inconclusive.

A 2022 review suggests that regularly drinking green tea could lower many risk factors of heart disease, such as blood pressure or lipids.

That said, there is still a lack of consistent, long-term evidence in human clinical trials able to show cause and effect.

Several studies show that green tea may help with weight loss.

A 2022 study found drinking four or more cups of green tea daily was linked with a 44%Trusted Source lower chance of abdominal obesity, but the effect was only significant for women.

But, green tea does not seem to make any changes to your levels of hunger and fullness hormones, which help regulate your appetite.

There’s also mixedTrusted Source evidence on weight loss with green tea in general.

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Green tea may have protective compounds against cancer and heart disease, which may help you live longer.

ResearchTrusted Source from Japan found that those who drank five cups or more per day had a lower chance of death from all causes than those drinking one cup or less.

A 2021 study found that drinking seven cups of green tea daily decreased the risk of death from all causes by 62%Trusted Source, even among people who have had heart attacks.

Most people can enjoy green tea daily as part of a balanced eating plan. While the evidence is mixed, studies seem to show health benefits with three to five cups (24 to 40 ounces) consumed daily.

Drinking green tea has many benefits. It is high in antioxidants, which may help prevent or remedy cellular damage and support your overall health. This includes reducing certain markers of inflammation which may decrease the risk of cognitive decline. It may even have some properties that help protect against cancer and heart disease.

It may be good for your health to drink one to three cups of green tea a day. Keep in mind that most green tea contains caffeine, unless it has been decaffeinated, so drinking more than 10 cups daily is not advised.

Some research-based evidence suggests drinking green tea can help reduce body fat, including in the abdomen. However, more well-controlled human studies are needed to show a cause-and-effect relationship.

Green tea has a range of possible health benefits.

You may want to consider making green tea a regular part of your lifestyle in a way that meets your personal health goals and taste preferences.