Green tea may help to prevent certain chronic diseases and may promote weight loss, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although further research is required, preliminary studies indicate that green tea's antioxidants help to protect the body and may have a wide range of health benefits. In general, tea bags provide lower levels of antioxidants than loose leaf tea. Talk to your doctor before using green tea.
Green Tea
All true teas come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. Green tea is less oxidized than oolong and black tea. Tea growers expose tea leaves to the air before drying them, resulting in oxidation. The amount of oxidation effects the tea's flavors and antioxidants. Due to its low level of oxidation green tea is rich in catechins. Catechins are polyphenols, natural plant chemicals that have antioxidant effects in the body.
Antioxidants
Green tea's polyphenols can neutralize free radicals -- and may reduce or prevent some of the damage they cause, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals, compounds that can damage and even kill cells. Free radicals may affect the aging process and contribute to cancer and heart disease. Whole tea leaves contain more antioxidants than tea leaves processed into particles, according to Northwestern University's Medill Reports.
Benefits
Clinical studies suggest that green tea's antioxidant effects may help prevent coronary artery disease, lower cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol, protect against cancer, reduce the risk of developing diabetes, boost metabolism and help burn fat, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The major catechin in green tea, EGCG, may promote arterial vasodilation -- a relaxing of the arteries. Tea's beneficial effects on blood vessel dilation may explain why tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in certain studies, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Considerations
Tea bags generally contain tea in small bits. Brewing your green tea from loose leaf tea results in a brew higher in beneficial polyphenols. The adult dose for green tea is two to three cups a day, providing 240 to 320 mg of polyphenols, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although green tea contains only a third to half as much caffeine as black tea, consuming caffeine can cause side effects. Side effects may include dizziness, insomnia, irritability and palpitations.
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