Reading the tea leaves about whether drinking green tea is good for you
A lot of little lifestyle decisions can have a big impact on overall health. Taking the stairs for two minutes, choosing to grill rather than fry your food or refusing that extra glass of wine can all add up to a longer life.
Given the importance of these small choices, some are wondering whether they should give up their morning cup of coffee in favor of green tea. The evidence on green tea’s benefits is still developing, and we don’t know if it’s the healthier choice. But if you’re looking to make the switch, there is some information that might push you over the bean-leaf divide.
Green and black tea come from the same plant, but green tea is less processed. Because of this, it has a relatively high concentration of something called catechins. Catechins are part of a bioactive compound known as a flavonoid, which is thought to reduce oxidative stress.
A specific catechin known as EGCG exists almost exclusively in green tea, according to Howard D. Sesso, an associate professor at Harvard and associate epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He specializes in researching how diet, particularly flavonoids, can affect health.
