The Truth about Green Tea

After water, tea is the most frequently consumed beverage in the world.  The average American drinks 155 cups of tea annually.  Extracts from green tea are also contained in a variety of supplements that are touted for health and vitality.  Is green tea really good for you? 

Green tea contains a variety of individual substances including caffeine, theanine, theaflavins, theobromine, theophylline, and phenolic acids.  Phenols in green tea are potent antioxidants that many researchers believe has properties that are beneficial against cancer, bacteria, and elevated cholesterol. 

Indications for products based on green tea are expanding.  For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have approved a topical ointment called Veregen for the treatment of Genital Warts caused by human papilloma virus (HPV).  The active ingredient in Veregen is extracted from green tea.  The results of studies regarding the use of green tea for prevention and treatment of various cancers are mixed.  Similar mixed conclusions have come from studies assessing the potential benefit of green tea for weight reduction and reducing risk for developing cardiovascular disease. 

Many ophthalmologists recommend that green tea be used in a diet high in antioxidants to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration.  Again, the benefit of green tea to prevent or treat eye disease is inconclusive.  Part of the reason for the ambiguity is because the amount of green tea needed to make a difference may be over five cups per day. 

Green tea has potential side effects like most oral agents used for medicinal purposes.  There are rare instances of liver toxicity and clotting inhibition from green tea.  However, green tea in moderate amounts appears to be a low-risk, inexpensive, and potentially useful substance for treating a variety of conditions.