The Best Time to Drink Green Tea

            Many people enjoy a piping hot cup of green tea throughout the day. The beverage is renowned for its health benefits and beloved for its delicious herbaceous and vegetal flavors. So when is the right time to enjoy this tasty drink and reap its benefits? We've put together this guide to show you the best time to drink green tea and added a few reasons why you should add this healthy tea to your daily regimen.

The Best Time to Drink Green Tea

In the Morning

Green tea can help to boost energy and alertness, making it a great morning beverage. However, green tea may cause irritation if consumed on an empty stomach. Make sure to have a light snack or breakfast before drinking green tea first thing in the morning. Drinking green tea in the morning can also help to stimulate metabolism and kick-start your day.

Before or After Meals

One of the side effects of green tea is iron blocking, meaning consuming the tea at mealtimes may cause adverse effects for some people — particularly if you suffer from anemia. Instead, drink a cup of green tea an hour or two before or after a meal.

Two to Three Hours Before Bedtime

While the caffeine content of green tea makes it a great afternoon tea, it can disrupt sleep cycles if consumed too close to bedtime. Try to drink your last cup of green tea an hour or two before you hit the sack to prevent symptoms of insomnia or disrupted sleep.

Limit Consumption

Since green tea contains caffeine, it's a good idea to limit consumption to two to three cups of green tea per day. Green tea is a detox tea and has diuretic properties so drinking too many cups each day can affect nutrient intake and nutrient absorption.

Why Drink Green Tea?

Green tea is a wildly popular beverage across the globe. It's a staple in alternative medicine and has also been widely researched in the modern medical community which has discovered a wide range of health benefits. The health benefits of green tea include improved weight loss when paired with a healthy diet and regular exercise as well as a reduced risk for serious ailments like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

May Boost Weight Loss Results

Some research shows that green tea may help to improve exercise performance and weight loss results (1) (2). That's because antioxidants in green tea like catechins, polyphenols, and flavonoids help to boost metabolism and trigger faster fat burning. These compounds work to burn fat by increasing internal temperature and encouraging the body to burn fat stores by triggering the release of gastric acid. It's important to note that these results were stronger in people of Asian descent compared to Caucasian participants. The benefits are a significant reason why a lot of people use green tea as a detox tea.

In addition, green tea is a great beverage choice for people who are looking to lose weight without sacrificing flavor. It's a tastier alternative to plain water and a healthier choice than sugary soft drinks that can pack on the pounds.

Boost Energy

Green tea can also help to boost energy thanks to mild caffeine content and the presence of amino acids that naturally stimulate brain activity. In addition to caffeine, green tea contains an amino acid known as l-theanine. Research shows that l-theanine may help to improve cognitive performance and increase energy. One such study published in Nutrition and Neuroscience found that a combination of caffeine and l-theanine — like that found in green tea — helped to improve results on word recognition and visual information processing tests (3).

Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

The regular consumption of green tea has been linked to a decreased risk of serious heart disease thanks to the presence of compounds like tannins and polyphenols. Research shows that green tea boasts anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce blood pressure and improve blood circulation. This can help to reduce the risk of blood clots and heart disease (4).

Immune Support

Green tea leaves contain antibacterial properties that can help support the immune system and fend off pathogens that make you sick. If you do get sick, a cup of tea can help to soothe symptoms like a sore throat or cough. In fact, green tea is a go-to cold and flu remedy in traditional Chinese medicine and increasingly common in western countries like Germany and France. This type of tea may also help improve oral health thanks to its antibacterial properties.

It's Tasty

The flavor of green tea is milder than a cup of black tea or oolong tea, but deeper than a light white tea thanks to the increased presence of tannins. Different types of green tea offer different flavors. Matcha green tea is a rich, vegetal tea that has a creamy texture while sencha green tea is lighter and slightly more floral. 

Side Effects of Green Tea

Iron Absorption

Green tea may inhibit the absorption of iron when consumed during a meal. To avoid this side effect, consume the tea one to two hours before or after a meal. The same goes for green tea supplements. Make sure to take green tea extract before or after a meal rather than during a meal and follow the use guidelines on the bottle.

Caffeine Sensitivity

People who are sensitive to caffeine should avoid green tea since it contains a mild amount of caffeine. If you experience symptoms of nausea, irritability, or stomach upset, decrease or stop consumption of green tea.

Medication Interactions

Talk to a doctor before drinking green tea if you are taking any medications. Green tea contains vitamin K and other compounds that may interact with heart medications and blood thinners.

Drink Green Tea and Savor the Health Benefits and Flavor

Green tea benefits make this tasty tea a great choice at any time of day. Drinking this tea can help to boost energy and alertness while offering a relaxing way to enjoy the tasty things in life. Pour yourself a cup of green tea an hour or two before or after a meal or enjoy a cup first thing in the morning with a snack to start the day off right.