People all over the world drink green tea for its delicious flavor and the numerous health benefits it is thought to provide.
Surprisingly, the time of day you choose to consume the drink can impact not only your ability to enjoy these benefits but also your vulnerability to certain drawbacks.
Many drink green tea in the morning to improve focus and concentration. The drink's mind-sharpening properties are partly due to caffeine.
Unlike coffee, green tea contains also L-theanine, a calming amino acid. Having this tea in the morning is a great way to start the day.
Green tea may be beneficial before exercise, according to research. Green tea extract increased fat burning by 17% in a study of 12 men compared to a placebo.
One study in 20 men found that 500 mg of green tea extract reduced markers of exercise-induced muscle damage.
Green tea compounds can bind to minerals and block absorption. Antinutrient tannins in green tea reduce iron absorption.
Green tea's epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can bind to iron, copper, and chromium, preventing their absorption.
Green tea has 35 mg of caffeine per cup (237 ml). While much less than the 96 mg of caffeine in coffee, it can still cause side effects in caffeine-sensitive people.
Because of this, those who are sensitive to caffeine may also want to avoid drinking green tea up to six hours before bed.