What is the Best Time to Drink Green Tea

What if I told you that something like a magical potion does exist? Well, something that is close to it actually does exist and is very much accessible to us. That’s right, it’s called green tea, and knowing the best time to drink green tea is the key to unlocking all its benefits.

Green tea has been designated as a miracle drink that has numerous benefits. It is very rich in antioxidants and also contains vitamins and minerals that are essential for the human body.

Next to water, green tea is known to be the most hydrating beverage with about 99.5 percent of water content.

The benefits of green tea are far too many, from health benefits to better skin and even hair. This is why it has been raved about by health enthusiasts and beauty connoisseurs alike.

Research shows that the compounds found in green tea such as epicatechin¹, epicatechin-3-gallate², and EGCG helps to reduce the risk of cancer, improve digestion, enhance metabolism, and even improve brain function.

However, the time of consumption of green tea is of utmost importance if you want to reap maximum benefits from it.

Moreover, when we learn about such a miracle product, we tend to overuse it, and as we all know, anything that is consumed in excess will only be counterproductive.

Hence it is very important to know when the best time to drink green tea is, and also the right amount of green tea to be consumed per day.

Best Time to Drink Green Tea to Lose Weight

Several studies have shown that regular consumption of green tea aids in weight loss. This is because green tea increases metabolism and hence drinking green tea before your workout session results in increased fat burning during the workout.

Research shows that catechins in green tea help to lose weight and also to maintain weight. It also helps in expending stored energy in the body, thereby increasing the calories burned. Hence regular exercise along with green tea will give results faster.

Green tea should preferably be consumed about an hour before a workout for best results. This will help you focus and increase endurance.

Drinking Green tea post-workout also has its own benefits due to its calming effect and the ability to replenish your body.

Best Time to Drink Green Tea to Enhance Metabolism

Green tea contains caffeine and catechins which have been found to boost metabolism and also aid in digestion.

For best results, the best time to drink green tea for boosting metabolism ³is either before a meal or 30 minutes to an hour after a meal to enhance the nutrient intake.

Best Time to Green Tea to Improve Brain Function

If you are looking for a healthier beverage to replace your morning cup of coffee then Green tea might be a good option for you.

Green tea contains caffeine but in very less amounts compared to coffee. Although lesser in the amount of caffeine, it works well to block the inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine, thereby enhancing brain functions.

It also heightens wakefulness and concentration, which is why the best time to drink green tea is in the morning, to start your day before you delve into your busy schedule.

Well, that’s not all, because green tea is also packed with L-theanine which is known to improve mood and memory making it a great choice of beverage for mornings.

Best Time to Drink Green Tea for Skin Improvement

Green tea is known for being rich in antioxidants and also for its anti-inflammatory properties. This helps to fight off those free radicals which cause the deterioration of skin’s collagen, resulting in wrinkles, dark spots, and skin sagging.

Hence when it comes to reaping skin benefits, the best time to drink green tea is any time you feel like it, because every cup counts!

Worst Time to Drink Green Tea

After learning about all these benefits of green tea, you must be wondering if there can even be the worst time to drink green tea. Well, to begin with, anything we feed our body in excess tends to be counterproductive, and green tea is no different.

It is advisable to drink not more than three to five cups of green tea per day. More so, if you are a person who suffers from anxiety and is sensitive to caffeine. In that case, it is best to limit green tea consumption to two to three cups a day depending on your tolerance.

1. First Thing in The Morning on an Empty Stomach

Although it is beneficial to drink green tea first thing in the morning, it is best not to consume tea on an empty stomach as it can have a negative effect on your liver due to the presence of compounds called catechins.⁴

It can also trigger the production of stomach acid as it has strong antioxidants and this will affect digestion. It may also activate the release of gastric acid which can lead to stomach upset.

Hence it is advisable to first drink a cup of warm water first thing in the morning before sipping on green tea.

2. During Meals

Drinking green tea during meals or right after a meal should also be avoided. This is because green tea contains compounds called tannins ⁵which reduce the absorption of iron. This is especially harmful to those who are prone to anemia.⁶

Furthermore, the compound called EGCG in green tea can bind itself to other minerals like copper and chromium and prevent the body from absorbing it. Hence it is best to avoid green tea during meals or even right after meals for better nutrient absorption.

3. At Night Just Before Bed

Another worst time to get a cup of green tea is at night just before sleeping. Unlike coffee, the caffeine content in green tea is lesser but it is still enough to prevent you from falling asleep.

So the best time to drink green tea in order to avoid this is at least two to three hours before bed so that you can fall asleep. If you are a person with anxiety or have sleep issues, avoid drinking green tea at night or limit it to about five to six hours before bed.

Final Note

Green tea is a beverage that holds a myriad of health benefits but to best attain these benefits, it is necessary to drink it at the right time.

So if you are wondering whether to incorporate green tea into your daily routine or not, then rest assured because this will be one of the best decisions you will ever make.

1. Qu, Zhihao, et al. “Advances in physiological functions and mechanisms of (−)-epicatechin.” Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 61.2 (2021): 211-233. ↩︎
2. Bigelow, R. L. H., and J. A. Cardelli. “The green tea catechins,(−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and (−)-Epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG), inhibit HGF/Met signaling in immortalized and tumorigenic breast epithelial cells.” Oncogene 25.13 (2006): 1922-1930. ↩︎
3. Bhargava, Prerna, and James J. Collins. “Boosting bacterial metabolism to combat antibiotic resistance.” Cell metabolism 21.2 (2015): 154-155. ↩︎
4. Higdon, Jane V., and Balz Frei. “Tea catechins and polyphenols: health effects, metabolism, and antioxidant functions.” (2003): 89-143. ↩︎
5. Scalbert, Augustin. “Antimicrobial properties of tannins.” Phytochemistry 30.12 (1991): 3875-3883. ↩︎
6. Onyeneho, Nkechi G., Benjamin C. Ozumba, and S. V. Subramanian. “Determinants of childhood anemia in India.” Scientific reports 9.1 (2019): 16540. ↩︎

Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by ayeshayusuf