---
description: The ancient drink offers some major health benefits
title: 7 Reasons to Have a Cup of Green Tea
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---
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# 7 Reasons to Have a Cup of Green Tea
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[Real Simple](/author/real-simple/)
## Real Simple
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Feb 27, 2015 10:35 PM CUT
Close up of Japanese green tea being poured from teapot into cup
Close up of Japanese green tea being poured from teapot into cupGetty Image
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[Real Simple](/author/real-simple/)
## Real Simple
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Feb 27, 2015 10:35 PM CUT
“A cup of tea would restore my normality,” Douglas Adams wrote in _The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_. And he was on to something. Turns out that drinking green tea regularly can do wonders for your body. Here are seven ways the drink gives you a boost:
**1\. Green tea is good for your bones.** Move over, milk. Green tea could help slow the process of age-related bone loss and decrease the risk of fractures caused by [osteoporosis](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/basics/definition/con-20019924 "undefined"), according to [a study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754215/ "undefined") published in the journal _Nutrition Research_. Women who drank up to three cups of tea per day had a 30% lower risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures, researchers found.
**2\. Green tea may help prevent cancer.** Cancer rates are lower in countries, like Japan, where green tea is a go-to drink, according to the [University of Maryland Medical Center](http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/green-tea "undefined"). While researchers can’t be sure that green tea alone is responsible for low cancer rates, it does contain the chemicals [EGCG, EGC, ECG and EC](http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/tea "undefined"), which are known for their antioxidant activity. These chemicals may help [protect cells](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15585768 "undefined") from DNA damage, one of the [first steps](http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerbasics/what-is-cancer "undefined") in the growth of cancer cells. Plus, properties of green tea could help [protect](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11209110 "undefined") your skin from the sun’s UV damage, the leading cause of [skin cancer](http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic%5Finfo/ "undefined").
**3\. Green tea could help you maintain a healthy weight.** It could even reduce body fat, researchers found in a [12-week study](http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/1/122.full "undefined") published in the _American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_. Green-tea extract may also have the [power](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130429114739.htm "undefined") to decrease obesity and obesity-related illnesses like diabetes.
**4\. Green tea could lower your cholesterol.** Green tea has been linked to lower levels of LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, according to a [paper](http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/601.long "undefined") published in the _American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_. Overall, tea drinkers had slightly lower levels of LDL than those who did not drink green tea.
### QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That?
Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet? Getty Images (4)
Answer: A half cup of ice cream If you eat what you’re craving, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and eat less. And scoop for scoop sorbet contains twice the sugar with none of the filling dairy protein and fat. Getty Images (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Real butter or spray on fake butter? Getty Images; Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Butter Serving size for spray butters (even low-calorie ones) are around a 1/3 second spray. What on earth does that mean? You're better off using a small amount of real butter as opposed to guessing how much you're using of the mystery melange of up to 20 ingredients. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A turkey burger or a sirloin burger? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Sirloin burger Restaurant turkey burgers are often made with dark meat and the skin, so they’re not necessarily better for you (and for the record, they aren't low-fat). You can get a sirloin burger that’s 95% lean meat and gives you 20 g of protein. Just be careful with the toppings. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Almonds or pretzels? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Almonds Almonds are high in protein, fiber and fat and will keep you feeling fuller longer. Give high-sodium pretzels about an hour and you'll feel hungry again thanks to the high-carb no-fat or protein content. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Special K or eggs? AP; Getty Images
Answer: Eggs In the morning, you want a meal that will fill you up. Eggs offer protein and fat for satiety, but Special K cereal really only offers carbs and, well, air. If you want carbs to kick off the day, you're better off pairing eggs with a slice of 100% whole grain toast. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Fat free salad dressing or regular salad dressing? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Regular salad dressingTo absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins E and K in vegetables you need to consume them with a fat to aid nutrient absorption. Fat-free dressing, meanwhile, is low-calorie but gets its flavor from added sugar and salt. Tara Johnson for TIME (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A low fat cookie or dark chocolate? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Dark chocolate “People believe fat free is calorie free,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. “Go for the real thing.” Fat free cookies tend to be high in carbs, sugar and fake sugar. Try a nice piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate instead. Getty Images (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Low fat Greek yogurt or 100 calorie Yoplait yogurt? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: 2% Greek YogurtA little fat is good in the morning to keep you full—plus it has upwards of 17g of protein per container. Fat-free "fruit" yogurt is high in sugar—7 to 10 g per serving—and lower in protein. Tara Johnson for TIME (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
**5\. Green tea may promote healthy gums.** [A lower rate](http://www.perio.org/consumer/green-tea "undefined") of gum-tissue loss and bleeding was found in those who regularly drank green tea, according to researchers at a Japanese university. The more tea subjects drank, the fewer symptoms of periodontal disease they displayed, so downing more than one cup a day could go a long way toward improving your oral health.
**6\. Green tea is good for your heart.** Drinking green tea every day could help lower your risk of heart disease, according to [Harvard Medical School](http://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/green-tea-may-lower-heart-disease-risk "undefined"). Regular tea drinkers showed a 26% lower risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke in a Japanese study of over 40,000 participants. But these participants consumed at least five cups of green tea per day, so drink up if you’re after a healthy heart.
**7\. Green tea gives you an energy boost.** Even those trying to cut back on caffeine can reap the energy benefits of green tea. Because one 8-oz. cup of green tea contains [24 to 45 milligrams of caffeine](http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372 "undefined"), vs. 95 to 200 milligrams in a cup of coffee, tea offers a boost of energy with a lower risk of the headaches, shakiness and nausea that come with caffeine overload. And that jolt of caffeine can boost exercise endurance, according to [research](http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/288/3/R708 "undefined") published in the _American Journal of Physiology_. So whether you’re an athlete or just looking for a pick-me-up, it may help to go green.
_This_ [_article_](http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/health-benefits-green-tea?xid=time-rs "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_RealSimple.com_](http://www.realsimple.com "undefined")_._
_More from Real Simple:_
* [One Good Reason to Drink a Glass of Wine Tonight](http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/drinking-wine-burn-fat?xid=time-rs "undefined")
* [One Good Reason to Have a Beer Today](http://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/beer-and-alzheimers-disease?xid=time-rs "undefined")
* [1 More Reason to Enjoy a Cup of Coffee](http://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/coffee-prevent-obesity-related-disease?xid=time-rs "undefined")
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