Benefits of Green Tea1. Contains healthy bioactive compounds Tea is rich in polyphenols, which are natural compounds that have health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and helping to fight cancer.2. May improve brain functionIt doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the jittery effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.Caffeine affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. This way, it increases the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine.3. Increases fat burningaccording to research, green tea can increase fat burning and boost metabolic rate.4. Antioxidants may lower the risk of some cancersSUBSCRIBENUTRITIONSpecial DietsHealthy EatingFood FreedomConditionsFeel Good FoodProductsVitamins & SupplementsSustainabilityWeight ManagementNUTRITIONEvidence Based10 Evidence-Based Benefits of Green TeaMedically reviewed by Atli Arnarson BSc, PhD — By Kris Gunnars, BSc — Updated on April 6, 2020We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.How we vet brands and productsGreen tea is loaded with antioxidants. Among its benefits, it may help support brain function and fat loss, help reduce the chance of developing heart disease, and offer some protection against cancer.Green tea is touted to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet that may have many potential health benefits.5 Evidence-Based Benefits of Green TeaGreen tea is touted to be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. This video shares the many health benefits of green tea.0 seconds of 1 minute, 4 seconds Here are 10 possible health benefits of green tea.1. Contains healthy bioactive compoundsGreen tea is more than just a hydrating beverage.The green tea plant contains a range of healthy compounds that make it into the final drink (1Trusted Source).Tea is rich in polyphenols, which are natural compounds that have health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and helping to fight cancer.Green tea contains a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits.These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals play a role in aging and many types of diseases.EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea. Research has tested its ability to help treat various diseases. It appears to be one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties (2Trusted Source).Green tea also has small amounts of minerals that can benefit your health.Try to choose a higher quality brand of green tea, because some of the lower quality brands can contain excessive amounts of fluoride (3Trusted Source).That being said, even if you choose a lower quality brand, the benefits still outweigh any risk.SUMMARYGreen tea is loaded with polyphenol antioxidants, including a catechin called EGCG. These antioxidants can have various beneficial effects on health.2. May improve brain functionGreen tea does more than just keep you alert, it may also help boost brain function.The key active ingredient is caffeine, which is a known stimulant.It doesn’t contain as much as coffee, but enough to produce a response without causing the jittery effects associated with taking in too much caffeine.Caffeine affects the brain by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. This way, it increases the firing of neurons and the concentration of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).Research has consistently shown that caffeine can improve various aspects of brain function, including mood, vigilance, reaction time, and memory (6Trusted Source).However, caffeine isn’t the only brain-boosting compound in green tea. It also contains amino acid L-theanine, which can cross the blood-brain barrier (7).L-theanine increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has anti-anxiety effects. It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain (7, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source).Studies show that caffeine and L-theanine can have synergistic effects. This means that the combination of the two can have particularly powerful effects in improving brain function (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).Because of the L-theanine and the small dose of caffeine, green tea may give you a much milder and different kind of buzz than coffee.Many people report having more stable energy and being much more productive when they drink green tea, compared with coffee.SUMMARYGreen tea contains less caffeine than coffee but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function.3. Increases fat burningIf you look at the ingredients list for any fat burning supplement, chances are, green tea will be on there.This is because, according to research, green tea can increase fat burning and boost metabolic rate (12).In one study involving 10 healthy men, taking green tea extract increased the number of calories burned by 4%. In another involving 12 healthy men, green tea extract increased fat oxidation by 17%, compared with those taking a placebo (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).However, some studies on green tea don’t show any increase in metabolism, so the effects may depend on the individual and how the study was set up (15Trusted Source).Caffeine may also improve physical performance by mobilizing fatty acids from fat tissue and making them available for use as energy (16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).Two separate review studies reported that caffeine may increase physical performance by approximately 11–12% (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).SUMMARYGreen tea may boost metabolic rate and increase fat burning in the short term, although not all studies agree.4. Antioxidants may lower the risk of some cancersCancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of cells. It’s one of the world’s leading causes of death.Research has shown that oxidative damage can lead to chronic inflammation, which can lead to chronic diseases, including cancers. Antioxidants can help protect against oxidative damage (20Trusted Source).Green tea is an excellent source of powerful antioxidants.Research has linked green tea compounds with a reduced risk of cancer, including the following studies:Breast cancer. A comprehensive review of observational studies found that women who drank the most green tea had an approximately 20–30% lower risk of developing breast cancer, one of the most common cancers in women.Prostate cancer. One study observed that men drinking green tea had a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer.Colorectal cancer. An analysis of 29 studies showed that those drinking green tea were around 42% less likely to develop colorectal cancer 7. May help prevent type 2 diabetesStudies show that green tea may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels.8. May help prevent cardiovascular diseaseStudies show that green tea may improve some of the main risk factors for these diseases, which includes improving total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.Green tea also increases the antioxidant capacity of the blood, which protects the LDL particles from oxidation, which is one part of the pathway toward heart disease9. May help you lose weightSeveral studies show that green tea may help reduce body fat, especially in the abdominal area.