Green tea is made from leaves that are unfermented and which contain high levels of healthy antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants help to protect your body's cells from damage by free radical agents released during the normal oxidation of food. The polyphenols present in green tea provide antioxidant protection that may be enhanced by the vitamins in lemon and other citrus.
Catechins
Catechins are antioxidants found in the composition of green tea, but less than 20 percent of green tee catechins remain in the body after digestion. Citrus, such as lemon, contains vitamin C, which also acts as an antioxidant. A Purdue University study in 2007 by Mario Ferruzzi and published in that year's November issue of "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research" concluded that adding lemon juice to green tea increased the body's ability to retain green tea's beneficial catechins by 80 percent.
Cholesterol
According to the University of Maryland, studies show that the polyphenols in green tea may block the body's cholesterol absorption and may work to remove cholesterol from the body. This effect lowers the overall cholesterol levels in the blood. Adding lemon to green tea increases antioxidant retention, according to the Purdue University study, which in turn should boost the ability of green tea to help lower overall cholesterol levels.
Cancer
The National Cancer Institute, NCI, reports that polyphenols in green tea may inhibit tumor cell proliferation, tumor cell invasiveness and protect against tumor development in laboratory and animal studies. As the research into the relationship between green tea polyphenols and human cancer prevention is ongoing, the NCI states that the evidence is currently inconclusive. As a preventative cancer measure, drinking green tea with lemon to boost antioxidant benefits may not be scientifically proven as yet, but the benefits in laboratory and animal studies are positive.
Iron
Lemon juice contains vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption, according to the NCI. Green tea may inhibit iron availability, which can be an issue for persons suffering from iron deficiency. Adding lemons to green tea may mitigate the iron loss, making the tea more beneficial to anemic people.
Weight Loss
Green tree extract may boost metabolism, which can help burn fat. The polyphenols present in green tea, especially the catechins, may be responsible for the metabolism boost, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center overview on green tea. Adding lemon to green tea increases catechin retention, which may aid green tea's ability to promote fat burning.
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