Green Tea

Botanical name: Camellia sinensis

Green Tea - Description
Dietary Uses of Green tea

How Much Green Tea?
Green Tea Interactions and Precautions

 Green Tea - Description (top)

Green and black tea are derived from the same plant. The differences between the two arise as the method of production varies. The tea plant is an evergreen shrub or tree which originated in southern Yunnan and the Assam province of India. Camellia sinensis is now widely cultivated primarily in China, Japan, North Africa and the Middle East. The black tea that we are more familiar with as a morning or afternoon beverage has been allowed to oxidise by fermenting, whereas green tea is produced by lightly steaming, then drying the fresh-cut leaf.   This process keeps the polyphenols (a group of active compounds) intact.

Green tea contains volatile oils, vitamins, minerals, and caffeine, but the primary constituents of interest are these polyphenols. The polyphenols are believed to be responsible for most of green tea's roles in promoting good health.

 How Much Green Tea? (top)  

Typical dosage recommendations are for 125-500mg/day - preferably of an extract standardised to at least 60% polyphenols, which should be equivalent to 4-10 cups of brewed green tea.

 Green Tea - Dietary Uses (top)

Green tea is a powerful anti-oxidant as well as being a stimulant, with diuretic and antitoxic properties.

The green tea polyophenols enhance antioxidant defence systems and the activity of certain antioxidant enzymes. Studies have shown that green tea polyphenols are better scavengers of free radicals than vitamins C and E,

and numerous studies have shown that green tea extract offers protection against tumour development and has immuno-protective qualities.

Green tea is also known to help promote heart health through its cholesterol lowering properties, and also appears to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.

Recent data provides strong evidence that green tea may be effective in stimulating thermogenesis, increasing caloric expenditure, promoting fat oxidation and controlling body weight.

Interactions and Precautions with Green Tea (top)

At the time of writing, there are no drug interactions or contra-indications listed for green tea.

Green tea is generally free of side effects, but it contains caffeine which may produce a stimulant effect - decaffeinated green tea is available. Pregnant and lactating women should consult with a qualified health professional before taking green tea, due to a lack of safety data at this time, as should anyone with a pre-existing medical condition or those on other medications.

Green tea is not recommended for use by children, as with all caffeine containing products.

As with all supplements, it is advisable to consult your medical practitioner for advice and guidance if you have a medical condition or are receiving a prescription medicine.