Green Tea Usage

Green tea is made from unfermented leaves which are though to have the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants are substances that scavenge the damaging...

Read more about Rheumatoid Arthritis and Green Tea.

Green tea contains high levels of substances called catechin polyphenols, known to possess strong antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antitumorigenic, and even antibiotic properties.¹

Read more about Viral Upper Respiratory Infections (Colds and Influenza) and Green Tea.

Green tea which contains polyphenols, is at times recommended for PCOS.

Read more about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Green Tea.

Green tea contains high levels of substances called catechin polyphenols, known to possess strong antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antitumorigenic, and even antibiotic properties. ¹ Based on these findings, as well as observational studies, ^{2 3 4 5 6} green tea has become popular as a daily drink for preventing cancer and heart disease . However, some observational trials failed to find indications of benefit with green tea. ⁷ Furthermore, only double-blind, placebo-controlled studies can prove a treatment effective, and there is little direct evidence of this type regarding green tea and cancer or heart disease prevention. ⁸ (For more information on why double-blind studies are so important, see Why Does this Database Rely on Double-blind Studies? ) One such study found that green teas produced short-term improvements in cholesterol profile, with the benefits disappearing after 4 weeks. ⁹ More positive results were seen in a study that evaluated a form of green tea enriched with the substance theaflavin, found in black tea. ¹⁰ In this fairly large (more than 200 participants), 3-month study, use of the tea product resulted in significant, ongoing reductions in LDL ("bad") cholesterol as compared to placebo. A green tea extract enhanced with catechins has also shown promise for reducing LDL levels, according to one somewhat flawed double-blind study. ¹¹ However, a study involving catechin-enhanced green tea in Japanese children was less convincing. ¹² Preliminary studies suggest that certain green tea polyphenols may help prevent skin cancer if they are applied directly to the skin. ¹³ In addition, there is some evidence that green tea constituents might help protect the skin from sun damage . ¹⁴ Unlike normal sunscreen preparations, green tea does not physically block ultraviolet light. Rather, it seems to protect cells from some of the damage caused by ultraviolet light. Because it works by such a different mechanism of action, green tea might offer synergistic benefits if combined with standard sunscreens. However, in an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 40 women who alreadyhad symptoms of aging skin, combined use of oral green tea and a topical green tea cream failed to prove more effective than placebo. ¹⁵ Some possible benefits were seen in microscopic evaluation of skin condition.

Topical green tea extracts have also shown a bit of promise for the treatment of cervical dysplasia , ¹⁶ while oral green tea extracts might reduce risk of prostate cancer, according to a small pilot study. ¹⁷ Combining the results of 13 observational studies, researchers found conflicting evidence for green tea's effect on the risk of stomach cancer. ¹⁸ In a Japanese pilot study, green tea extract supplements lowered the risk of recurrent colorectal polyps. ¹⁹ In a review of nine observational studies involving over 5,600 cases of breast cancer, researchers failed to find reliable evidence for a reduction in the incidence of breast cancer. However, they did find weak evidence for a decrease in breast cancer recurrence among women who consumed more than 3 cups of green tea daily. . ²⁰ For more information on green tea's capacity to fight cancer see the Cancer Prevention article.

On a completely different note, one interesting study tested the effectiveness of gargling with green tea catechins as a means of preventing influenza . ²¹ In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 124 residents of a Japanese nursing home gargled with green tea catechins or placebo for three months. All participants received standard influenza vaccine. The results showed that residents who gargled with the tea extract were less likely to develop influenza than those using the placebo. In addition, another double-blind study found preliminary evidence that oral consumption of a green tea extract might help prevent colds and flus . ²² A small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found weak evidence that green tea chew candy might reduce gum inflammation in individuals with periodontal disease (gingivitis). ²³ Oral use of green tea extracts has shown a bit of promise for treating borderline diabetes. ²⁴ However, one double-blind study failed to find that a combined extract of black and green tea was helpful for controlling blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes . ²⁵ Green tea has been proposed as means of preventing liver disease , but the evidence for this use remains unconvincing. ²⁶ Green tea is sometimes recommended for weight loss on the basis of rather theoretical evidence that it speeds up metabolism. ²⁷ However, there is little direct scientific backing for this use. If green tea increases metabolism at all, the effect is extremely small. ²⁸ One study conducted in Thailand reported weight-loss benefits with green tea, ²⁹ as did a second study of oolong tea enriched with green tea extracts. ³⁰ However, a Dutch study failed to find green tea helpful for preventing weight regain after weight loss. ³¹ In another study, use of green tea failed to produce significant weight loss in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome . ³² Green tea extract enriched with catechins has done somewhat better, enhancing weight loss in one substantial, but flawed trial. ³³ However, a study in overweight Japanese children did not support the effectiveness of green tea catechins for weight reduction. ³⁴ Similar results were obtained in another placebo-controlled trial involving 78 overweight women after 12 weeks of treatment. ³⁵ One preliminary study, available only in abstract form, found some evidence that green tea cream may be helpful for rosacea . ³⁶ The results of another study weakly hint that green tea extracts taken orally might reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia . ³⁷ One study found that inhaled tea catechins could reduce levels of resistant staph carried in the sputum of disabled seniors. ³⁸ Note: Do not attempt to inhale green tea products.