Green tea is seen as something of a wonder potion, rumoured to do everything from freshening your breath to even improving brain function. Many questions surround the brew: can you use green tea for weight loss? Are there any green tea side effects? Does anyone even know how to make green tea? Here’s the low down on what’s really what when it comes to green tea.
Does green tea contain caffeine?
Green tea does contain caffeine, typically at a lower volume relative to coffee, so it’s a good option if you want a pick-me-up alternative to your go-to morning cappuccino. Learn more about caffeine and green tea here.
What are the benefits of Green Tea?
Green tea is one of the top sources of flavonoids – also found in cocoa, fruit, vegetables and other foods. A diet rich in flavonoids is generally associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and Lipton Pure Green Tea is a potential source — just one cup packs approximately 100mg of flavonoids, Daily consumption of 2-3 cups of unsweetened brewed tea provides between 200-300mg of flavonoids, which may help support a healthy heart as part of a diet consistent with dietary guidelines.
Thirsty? The first ingredient in tea is water, which is needed by your body to run at its best. Tea is just as hydrating and refreshing as water .
There’s a lot more answers when you ask what are the benefits of green tea. It’s also used as a dehumidifier, carpet cleaner and odour eliminator. Green tea is increasingly popular in creams, moisturisers and other beauty products; you can even find green tea in face and hair masks these days. It’s truly a tea of many uses.
How to make green tea
The secret to perfect green tea is not to pour scalding water on those delicate health-giving leaves. While Lipton Green tea doesn’t need a fancy tea ceremony, it does benefit from a little TLC. Here’s how to make green tea the best way:
Boil a kettle, then let the water cool for a couple of minutes.
Pour it lovingly over your Lipton Green Tea bag.
Let the tea infuse for up to 2 minutes to retain all the lovely nutrients and keep that vibrant green colour. Any longer, and your tea might lose its delicate taste and become a little bitter.
Find our step-by-step guide and video on how to make green tea here.
Enjoy it as it comes, with a slice of lemon, or sweetened with a little honey. If you’re looking for a green tea fix on a hot day, pop your freshly brewed tea in the fridge for a few hours then serve it over ice with lemon slices for a cooling green brew. Find Lipton recipe inspiration here.
Is it true that you can drink green tea for weight loss?
Tea, including green tea, when consumed without milk, sugar or honey, contains no calories. It can help you with your goals by keeping you well hydrated and ready to face the day. So calorie-free green tea may help with weight management, especially when used in place of sweetened beverages, to help you to stay in shape. Remember, green tea for weight loss should always accompany a healthy diet and exercise programme.
Are there any Green Tea side effects?
The only potential green tea side effects that have been identified are related to overconsumption of caffeine. If you are drinking large amounts of green tea daily, you could suffer irritability, sleep disturbance or other symptoms associated with high caffeine intake. However, as green tea is lower in caffeine than most other teas and coffees, it’s quite safe to drink 4-6 cups a day of green tea with no likely caffeine side effects.
What about drinking Green Tea during pregnancy?
Green tea is generally considered perfectly safe for drinking during pregnancy. The two main concerns regarding drinking green tea during pregnancy are caffeine content and the effects on iron absorption.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg (about two six-ounce cups) per day. Lipton encourages pregnant and nursing women to discuss caffeine intake with their physician. The caffeine content of tea is about half that in brewed coffee (28-50 mg caffeine in a cup of tea compared to 107-171 mg in a cup of brewed coffee).
Tea consumption has not been shown to result in iron deficiency in healthy women who eat a varied and balanced diet. Pregnant women who are more likely to have poor blood iron levels can minimise the effect of tea on iron absorption: allow a minimum of an hour from the end of a meal before drinking green tea during pregnancy.
It is the absorption of iron present in plant foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses, that can be affected by polyphenols naturally present in tea. This may be countered by consuming foods rich in vitamin C (e.g. fruits, salad, fruit juice) which will enhance iron absorption.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor and/or nurse about their blood iron status.
It is important to note that drinking green tea during pregnancy in normal amounts has not been associated with iron deficiency in healthy people who follow a varied and balanced diet.