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occ's avatar

health benefits of green tea?

Asked by occ (4179points) February 25th, 2008

are the supposed anti-oxidant benefits of green tea still there if you drink green iced tea? Or does the tea have to be hot in order for you to reap the health benefits?

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20 Answers

VoodooLogic's avatar

testimonial: I used green tea before a big rugby tournament to curb my withdrawals from nicotine (athletic smoker = bad) and caffeine (early morning coffee addiction). It worked like a charm for the two weeks I used it. I also enjoy it for relaxation. =)

Spargett's avatar

Hot or cold they are still there. As I’m sire you know the health benefits of green tea are mile long, and blow black tea pit of the water.

Make sure to avoid putting any dairy in the tea, which voids Many of the health benefits. Soy milk is cool.

Maverick's avatar

Ya, I agree with Spargett but also caution about drinking too much soy (for men, at least)... something about raising estrogen levels or somesuch. I went through a real green-tea kick for a while and was drinking it religiously at least once a day and I started having some really strange problems (anxiety, mostly) so I stopped and everything returned to normal. I seem to be pretty sensitive to caffeine though, but you should be aware of the effects of too much caffeine on your system. Now I don’t drink it so much, but I like matcha – which I have occasionally. It seems to not have the same caffeine buzz associated with it and just feels damned healthy. You might want to try that if you can find it somewhere local.

carondelet's avatar

Hot or cold, I think the benefits are the same. It may be that the tannin levels are increased with hot brewing though. I have heard that pregnant or expecting women should not drink green tea at all.

chatnoir's avatar

I drink green tea every morning and no coffee. I also drink FRS, which is a sports drink, when I bicycle and it uses green tea as the energy booster. Makes a significant difference in my stamina and recovery after a ride.

MissAnn's avatar

The health benefits of green tea are plentiful, some known and some lesser known, but here are just a couple of examples:

Dental care:

As well as skin care, it is claimed by manufacturers that Green Tea can be used as a mouthwash. Due to the amount of natural fluoride in Green tea it can help prevent tooth decay, build up of plaque and help to strengthen teeth and gums.

Cholesterol levels:

The antioxidants in Green Tea are renowned for preventing the oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in our blood from turning into plaque, which is a hard substance that clogs the arteries making us more at risk of suffering a heart attack or a stroke. People with high cholesterol should regularly consume Green tea to keep the levels down. Tea in general is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect which is very good for the heart’s overall function.

Weight Loss:

Green tea has not always been considered a weight loss until recent studies have shown its fat burning properties and its ability to raise the metabolism. With no ill side effects such as heart palpitations, dizziness which is commonly experienced when is using other weight loss supplements.

Hope this helps!

cazort's avatar

Ahh, this is exciting because I’ve actually researched this topic quite extensively!

From what I’ve read, the antioxidants in tea are just as accessible whether the tea is hot or iced. However, once the tea has been brewed, the antioxidants begin to break down. For this reason, bottled iced teas tend to be very low in antioxidants, because they’ve been sitting around. If you’re going to drink iced tea, it’s best to brew it yourself, and drink it up quickly. There’s more explanation, and citations, on a page I made about bottled tea which you may find helpful.

I also avoid instant teas and products marketed as iced tea, as I think they tend to be much lower quality (even unsweetened ones). There may be a few exceptions, but in general your best bet if you want to drink healthy, high-quality iced tea is to buy good loose-leaf tea, brew it yourself, ice it, and then drink it up within a day or two.

There is, however, one additional benefit from drinking hot tea, which is that drinking warm liquids (regardless of whether it’s hot or cold, so long as you’re not overheated) tend to relax the body . And being relaxed is generally good for your health.

laura_b's avatar

Although green tea contains some caffeine, it’s a very good source of antioxidants. We should drink green tea in moderation only. Leaves from the green tea plant are an especially good source of catechins. Catechins are polyphenols (a type of antioxidants) that help to prevent and heal illnesses. They have been shown to be very effective in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

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sumas12's avatar

University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.Green tea increases hydration through the consumption of more water. Reduces and prevents acne. Drink a cup of green tea regularly and you will not have acne problems.

LCT's avatar

Where can I find truly pesticide free organic green tea. Some companies don’t use DDT, but grow their green tea in countries where the use of DDT is still legal and the winds carry the DDT onto the tea fields. I have read this from a reliable source. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

beatrixtuffy's avatar

Green tea is truly beneficial for our health. Generally, people consider this tea to reduce them body weight or get great fitness as well. In my opinion people should drink this tea twice in a day to be healthy living good life.

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Amyhill's avatar

Yeah, I find it pretty exciting, because I am a Green Tea Lover & Experienced it very well.
When I was reading more health blogs & articles at that Time I came to know about the green tea & its benefits. So I started drinking Green tea & it worked. People says its good to reduce weight & good for skin too. And yes thats true. More than 4–5 months continuously I drank Green Tea & amazingly It helped me in reducing weight. With that I also had a bit Yoga. More on my recommendation is for Green Tea for fit body & healthy skin.

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Mimeo's avatar

Green tea can help lose weight, weaken the risk of cancer and improve your heart rate. My mother has been used green tea for a couple of years and every thing goes smoothly to her. If it is possible, you should drink from 1 or 2 cups of green tea per day to maximize its benefits. Try to not drink too much because it can cause some stomach problems.

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