There are many health benefits of green tea that require further investigation. That said, preliminary evidence suggests that drinking green tea may have the following influences on your body:
- Reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes
- Increase in the density of your bones, helping prevent osteoporosis
- Reduction of stress
- Protection of skin from UV radiation
- Treatment of human papillomavirus cervical lesions
- Prevention of both cold and flu
- Improvement of cognitive function
- Strengthening of your gums and prevention of gum disease
- Increase in blood pressure in older adults who suffer from hypotension
- Treatment of genital warts
Green tea can be consumed by drinking it or taking a pill. One cup contains 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) of polyphenols. Three cups, the average amount drank in Asian countries, contain anywhere from 240 mg to 320 mg of polyphenols. A green tea tablet contains 100 mg; whereas the capsules contain various amounts: 100 mg, 150 mg, 175 mg, 333 mg, 383 mg, or 500 mg.
For the human-papillomavirus-infected cervical lesions, 200 mg a day is used, plus topical green tea ointment for two to three months. To help prevent cancer, drink between three and eight cups a day. To help reduce cholesterol, drink 10 or more cups a day or take theaflavin-enriched green tea extract; 375 mg a day for 12 weeks. To improve mental capacity and alertness, take 60 mg or one cup a day.