The benefits of drinking green tea and even applying it topically are well known. But just how much green tea should you be drinking or using in order to be beneficial? There is still a debate about how much is good enough or how much may be too much when consuming green tea. Because the answers vary, sometimes it is difficult to determine what is considered a real number and what may be a figure inflated by those who sell green tea in order to get you to consume more of their product.
In a recent study for cancer prevention conducted at the University of California, scientists indicate that the antioxidants and other constituents within green tea that act as a cancer-preventative can be attained in consuming as little as two cups of green tea per day. Other studies indicate that you should consume as much as 10 cups per day in order to see real benefit. Perhaps a figure somewhere between 2 - 5 cups of green tea per day is more than likely enough for most people who are interested in maintaining overall good health without any serious side effects.
If you want to avoid the potential of consuming too much caffeine try to pay close attention to how much green tea you drink. Most people who consume green tea don’t even have to think about this even if they consume green tea all day. So, even if you tend to be able to tolerate a relatively high intake, it is a good idea to try not to drink more than 12 - 15 cups per day. The equivalent of a cup of tea is one tea bag infused in hot, not boiling water, for an average steeping time of 7 -10 minutes. This longer steeping time is better for health benefits, since the water will have more time to extract valuable compounds from the tea. However, it will make the tea bitterer than normal.
You may want to consume less than this if you have heart or liver problems, high blood pressure, anemia, glaucoma, osteoporosis, suffer from insomnia or anxiety. So while green tea can be good for you, at times it is possible to get too much of a good thing. Also, be sure to check with your doctor to make certain that any medications you may be taking do not pose a potential problem with the caffeine contained within green tea.
Very high consumption of green tea can decrease the body’s ability to absorb folic acid. Folic acid is very important for women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant in the prevention of birth defects. If you are pregnant or considering pregnancy, try to drop your green tea consumption down to no more than 2 cups per day.
As a note, we are not physicians, nor do we intend to offer medical advice. Any information offered here is for entertainment value only.
