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Other than water, tea is the most consumed beverage worldwide. And for good reason: tea is great for you, particularly the green variety.
Several benefits of green tea are supported by solid research. Others, much less so. For example, influencers sometimes gush about green tea being “nature’s Ozempic,” suggesting it’s as effective as obesity medication. If this claim sounds exaggerated, that’s because it is, researchers say.
Below, they explain what the science shows about green tea’s role in countering obesity and diabetes, boosting heart and brain health, and fighting cancer. Green tea, a nutrition unicorn
Tea leaves are unique because they have more catechins than any other drink or food. These compounds protect cells from damage as we get older.
Green tea may be especially healthy compared to other teas, partly because it undergoes little processing on the way to our cups. Black and oolong teas are fermented, a process that reduces their catechins, although fermentation does yield other kinds of healthy compounds. More From TIME
Green tea contains a few types of catechins, but one called EGCG is the most powerful for safeguarding the cells and fighting inflammation. “That’s what makes green tea so special,” says Laura Acosta, an instructional associate professor of nutrition at the University of Florida who researches green tea. How to drink it
When green tea is freshly brewed, it packs more EGCG than ready-to-mix or ground green tea powders, which range widely in their EGCG content, from 2 to 200 mg per serving, Acosta says. If you do go the powder route, look for packages that state their EGCG content, she adds, and try to consume them quickly after buying. Sitting on pantry shelves for six months, powders lose 30-50% of their catechins, Acosta says, meaning fewer health benefits.
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