Strain it after 10 minutes, and enjoy it with lemon or honey. Rose hips are the coral-red, round, edible pseudo-fruits that are left after a rose bush loses its flowers.

Rose hips contain phenolic compounds, which are powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidants that protect your cells from damage Studies show that rosehip powder reduces pain and other symptoms related to rheumatoid arthritis by limiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine chemicals Rose hips also contain healthy fat compounds like triterpenoic acids, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and betulinic acid.

These inhibit the cox-1 and cox-2 enzymes, which trigger inflammation and pain To make rosehip tea, use about 10 whole, fresh or dried rose hips and mash or crumble them.

Strain the drink to remove the solids and add honey if desired. The flavor of the seeds and bulb from the Mediterranean fennel plant is often compared to that of licorice or anise.

Like rose hips, fennel is full of anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds. Some of the most active ones are caffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol Some research indicates that fennel may reduce pain, especially menstruation-related pain, which may be due to its powerful anti-inflammatory compounds.

A 3-day study in 60 young women demonstrated that treatment with grams of fennel extract per day significantly reduced menstrual pain, compared with a placebo Fennel tea is easy to make with fennel seeds from your spice rack.

Pour 1 cup ml of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of crushed fennel seeds and let them steep for about 10 minutes. Add honey or sweetener if you like. When brewing a fresh cup of tea, use loose leaves with a tea infuser rather than a tea bag if possible.

A study on antioxidants in tea found that loose-leaf teas tend to contain more anti-inflammatory antioxidants than tea bags Be creative and combine different teas and other anti-inflammatory herbs, spices like cinnamon and cardamom , or even fruits like lemon or orange slices.

Many of these ingredients work together to provide even more health benefits Always use fresh ingredients when brewing your tea. While teas can help fight inflammation and provide various other health benefits, there are some concerns to consider.

Some tea plants are treated with pesticides and herbicides, so try to choose high-quality, organic or pesticide-free varieties. A study on pesticides in tea imported from China found residues in of samples. In addition, teas should be stored in an airtight container in a dark, dry place.

If not stored properly, they can harbor mycotoxins , a harmful byproduct from a fungus that can grow on some foods and has been found in tea Finally, some teas may interact with medications, supplements, or herbs if you drink a lot of it.

Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have concerns about possible interactions 4. Drinking tea is an easy and delicious way to enjoy the anti-inflammatory and other health benefits of plants, herbs, and spices.

Try sipping on some of the teas listed above, including green, rosehip, ginger, and turmeric tea, to reap their inflammation-fighting and health-promoting benefits.

Holy basil has been shown to reduce stress, treat ulcers, relieve joint pain, and more. Find out why it's called the Queen of Herbs. Herbal teas have a wide variety of tastes, flavors and even health benefits.

Here are 10 healthy herbal teas you'll want to try today. Fennel tea tastes a little like licorice, with a relaxing scent and slightly bitter aftertaste. Learn about its benefits for your health. Turmeric is a traditional Indian spice with a powerful compound called curcumin.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of turmeric and curcumin. Chamomile is an herb that has long been consumed as a natural health remedy. This article reviews the top 5 benefits of chamomile tea. While peppermint tea is often enjoyed for its flavor, it may also have several positive effects on health.

Here are 12 science-backed benefits of…. Black tea offers a variety of health benefits, including improved cholesterol, better gut health and decreased blood pressure. Here are 10 health…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic?

How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 6 Powerful Teas That Fight Inflammation. By Anne Danahy, MS, RDN — Updated on July 17, Plants, herbs, and spices have been used medicinally for centuries. Drinking tea made from these plants, herbs, and spices is an easy way to enjoy their benefits.

Here are 6 powerful teas that may fight inflammation. Share on Pinterest. How we vet brands and products Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site.

To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm? Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence? Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? Green tea Camellia sinensis L. Summary Green and matcha teas are sources of the anti-inflammatory polyphenol EGCG, which may reduce inflammation and symptoms associated with IBDs and other inflammation-driven chronic conditions.

Holy basil Ocimum sanctum. Tulsi tea should be safe for most people to drink every day. It's worth noting when you're stressed out, your body releases hormones that can trigger inflammation, and what could be more stress-reducing than settling under a blanket with a nice cup of tea in your favorite mug?

Below, we boil down the facts for you about eight of the best anti-inflammatory teas. Perhaps the type of tea most synonymous with wellness, green tea has excellent potential anti-inflammatory benefits, says Alyssa Pacheco , RD.

However, green tea should be consumed in moderation. SHOP OUR TOP GREEN TEA PICK. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR TURMERIC TEA. Black tea, which is made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, is the most popular tea in the world. Keep in mind that black tea naturally contains caffeine, so best to drink it in the morning.

SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR BLACK TEA. Ginger has been used in traditional medicine for centuries — it's a natural way to soothe an upset stomach, relieve nausea, and treat a cough. Studies have shown that ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and may be helpful in preventing gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases.

You can slice a ginger root and boil it in water with lemon, or simply brew a bag of ginger tea. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR GINGER TEA. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR OOLONG TEA.

And indeed, pouring a cup at night can help you ease into your bedtime routine as well as address inflammation. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR CHAMOMILE TEA. With less caffeine than its counterpart, white tea packs a powerful punch despite its light color and mild taste.

SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR WHITE TEA. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR ROOIBOS TEA. Since added sugar is one of the key dietary triggers of inflammation, it's best to drink your tea unsweetened, and with just a hint of plant-based milk or nonfat milk if you like it the British way.

Taub-Dix recommends mixing lemon with your tea, since the vitamin C from the citrus is an antioxidant. For a natural addition of sweetness, she also likes mixing in a slice of apple or orange—your cup will look as pretty as it tastes.

Luisa Colón is a Brooklyn-based writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Family Circle, USA Today and many other print and online publications. Her first novel, Bad Moon Rising, will be released in August The Best Multivitamins for Women.

In addition, EGCG has also been shown to have beneficial effects against rheumatoid arthritis, another chronic inflammatory disease. Patients with RA experience a limited range of motion, swelling, and redness of the joints.

There is currently no cure for RA. However, treatment strategies may include reducing inflammation to delay the progression of the disease. A study [ 11 ] discovered that catechins found in green tea extracts interfere with the interleukin-1β IL-β signaling pathway. In the body, IL-β signals the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and Cox-2 in cells called human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts FASFs.

So, it appears green tea may reduce the ability of IL-β to signal premature cells lining the synovial joints to produce cells that will lead to inflammation of the joints. Results [ 11 ] reinforce earlier findings that green tea extracts can potentially reduce inflammation of the joints in those with rheumatoid arthritis.

A group of investigators [ 12 ] suggested that unfermented green tea yields the highest catechins level compared to fermented teas. When set side by side with black tea, green tea has a higher content of catechins.

Since black tea is fermented, catechins are oxidized to theaflavins, lowering the content of catechins in the process [ 12].

Since catechins have antioxidant properties, the higher the content of catechins, the greater the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Black teas have lower antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than green teas. Although green tea remains the best source of catechins, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may still be uneven. It is reported [ 13 ] that the origin and type of green tea will influence the level of catechins found in its leaves.

How green tea is cultivated and the climate and temperature in which it grows also affect the level of catechins produced in the leaves [ 14 ]. Over the years, Sencha has probably been recognized as the most popular of all the green teas. Sencha is mainly cultivated and produced in Japan [ 15 ].

The quality of the leaf, also known as leaf grade, and the place in Japan where it is grown will influence its taste. Sencha tea, once treated, can be transformed into Matcha, Bancha, and Gyokuro tea species. Matcha green tea leaf infusion has the highest amount of L-theanine and caffeine compared to Gyokuro and Bancha teas [ 16 ].

On the other hand, infusions of Bancha green tea have lower amounts of caffeine and L-theanine compared to Gyokuro tea infusions [ 16 ]. L-theanine is described as an amino acid involved in the formation of proteins used to produce insulin, adrenaline, and neurotransmitters [ 17 ].

A scientific study [ 1 8] showed that L-theanine could modify the effects of caffeine, especially the stimulant activities of caffeine. The presence of L-theanine results in improved cognitive function, decreased blood pressure, and improved mood and concentration. Gyokuro tea infusions may be more effective than Bancha green tea leaves in improving cognitive function.

After consuming green tea, the levels of EGCG in the blood drop for about two hours. Hence, it is recommended that you drink about cups of green tea to enjoy the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of green tea extracts.

The number of cups of green tea that you should consume will also depend on which type of tea you prefer. If you like Matcha tea, it is advised that you only drink cups a day because it has the highest amount of L-theanine and caffeine compared to other teas.

Always inform your doctor if you feel any side effects from drinking green tea. Some reported side effects are related to its caffeine content. These can include irritability, tremors, anxiety, and sleeping problems [ 19 ].

Choosing green tea with lower caffeine levels might help you avoid these common side effects. Liver problems are an uncommon side effect associated with green tea.

This award-winning tea is a lovely reddish-golden hue and brews up into a flavorful and well-balanced cup. Green tea has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea is especially high in antioxidants, which can help to reduce free radicals and combat oxidative stress.

In addition to fighting inflammation, green tea has a wealth of other health benefits , including antiarthritic, antibacterial, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties. A shade-grown tea produced from the leaves of the first harvest, Gyokuro is one of the most prized teas in Japan, and is famed for its savory umami character.

Gyokuro tea plants are shaded for at least three weeks prior to harvest, which increases the chlorophyll content in the plants and results in a dark, blue-green tea leaf with a rich, oceanic flavor and a subtle sweetness.

This process also increases the caffeine and theanine content of the tea. Our Gyokuro is sourced from Fukuoka Prefecture. Like black and green tea, white tea has been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

White tea also tends to be lower in caffeine than both black and green tea, making it a great option for those looking to lower their caffeine intake while still reaping the many inflammation-fighting benefits of true tea.

The first leaves of the spring season are hand-plucked in the foothills of Nepal to produce this refreshing organic white tea. Himalayan Spring brews up into a pale, peachy straw color, and embodies the characteristic lightness and brightness of a spring harvest white tea.

This tea is smooth and buttery, with no hint of bitterness. Rooibos is an herbal tea primarily grown in South Africa. Sometimes called red tea or red bush tea, Rooibos has a full body similar to that of black tea and has a pleasant natural sweetness.

This herbal tea is also caffeine-free, making it a great alternative for tea drinkers looking to cut down on caffeine.

Rooibos contains a type of antioxidant known as flavanoids, which have been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Grown in South Africa, Rooibos has the full body of a black tea but is naturally caffeine-free with a mellow natural sweetness.

In addition, reducing inflammation can help to prevent illnesses such as strokes and heart attacks. While you should always consult with a medical professional when dealing with serious illness, tea can be a tasty way to reduce symptoms of inflammation on a daily basis.

Like green tea, matcha contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation and soothe pain.

Because matcha is made from powdered green tea leaves, it contains even more concentrated amounts of the beneficial properties present in green tea. Our Atomic Gold Herbal Tea features anti-inflammatory ingredients like ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, and licorice root.

While not all herbal teas help to reduce inflammation, many herbal teas contain anti-inflammatory herbs and spices like ginger, turmeric, lemongrass, rosehips, chamomile, and more. Your cart is empty Continue shopping Have an account?

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Back to blog. Research suggests that green tea may help arthritis by reducing inflammation and slowing the breakdown of cartilage. Chemicals in green tea may help treat genital warts, treat dermatologic conditions, and prevent symptoms of colds and flu.

Green tea may play a role in preventing Parkinson disease, cognitive decline, and osteoporosis. Studies also show that drinking green tea is associated with reduced risk of dying from any cause.

Green, black, and oolong tea are all derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Originally cultivated in East Asia, this plant grows as large as a shrub or tree. Today, Camellia sinensis grows throughout Asia and parts of the Middle East and Africa. People in Asian countries more commonly consume green and oolong tea while black tea is most popular in the United States.

Green tea is prepared from unfermented leaves, the leaves of oolong tea are partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. The more the leaves are fermented, the lower the polyphenol content and the higher the caffeine content.

Green tea has the highest polyphenol content while black tea has roughly 2 to 3 times the caffeine content of green tea. Researchers think the health properties of green tea are mostly due to polyphenols, chemicals with potent antioxidant potential.

In fact, the antioxidant effects of polyphenols seem to be greater than vitamin C. The polyphenols in green tea also give it a somewhat bitter flavor. Polyphenols contained in teas are classified as catechins. Green tea contains six primary catechin compounds: catechin, gallaogatechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and apigallocatechin gallate also known as EGCG.

EGCG is the most studied polyphenol component in green tea and the most active. Green tea also contains alkaloids including caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. They provide green tea's stimulant effects. L-theanine, an amino acid compound found in green tea, has been studied for its calming effects on the nervous system.

Most green tea dietary supplements are sold as dried leaf tea in capsule form. Look for standardized extracts of green tea. There are also liquid extracts made from the leaves and leaf buds.

The average cup of green tea contains 50 to mg polyphenols antioxidants. Decaffeinated green tea products contain concentrated polyphenols. Caffeine-free supplements are available. Depending on the brand, 2 to 3 cups of green tea per day for a total of to mg polyphenols or to mg per day of standardized green tea extract is recommended.

Caffeine-free products are available and recommended. The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, people should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

People with heart problems or high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver problems, stomach ulcers, and psychological disorders, particularly anxiety, should not take green tea. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid green tea. People with anemia, diabetes, glaucoma, or osteoporosis should ask their health care provider before drinking green tea or taking an extract.

People who drink large amounts of caffeine, including caffeine from green tea, for long periods of time may experience irritability, insomnia, heart palpitations, and dizziness.

Caffeine overdose can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and loss of appetite. If you are drinking a lot of tea and start to vomit or have abdominal spasms, you may have caffeine poisoning. If your symptoms are severe, lower your caffeine intake and see your health care provider.

If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not drink green tea or take green tea extract without first talking to your health care provider:. Green tea may inhibit the actions of adenosine, a medication given in the hospital for an irregular and usually unstable heart rhythm.

Green tea may increase the effectiveness of beta-lactam antibiotics by making bacteria less resistant to treatment. Caffeine, including caffeine from green tea, may reduce the sedative effects of these medications commonly used to treat anxiety, such as diazepam Valium and lorazepam Ativan.

Beta-blockers, Propranolol, and Metoprolol. Caffeine, including caffeine from green tea, may increase blood pressure in people taking propranolol Inderal and metoprolol Lopressor, Toprol XL. These medications are used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease.

Blood-Thinning Medications. People who take warfarin Coudamin should not drink green tea. Since green tea contains vitamin K, it can make this medication ineffective. Other compounds in green tea may slow blood clotting and therefore increase the blood-thinning effect of these medications.

You should not mix green tea and aspirin because they both prevent blood from clotting. Using the two together may increase your risk of bleeding. If you are taking medications that promote blood thinning, discuss green tea consumption with your physician.

The combination of green tea and chemotherapy medications, specifically doxorubicin and tamoxifen, increased the effectiveness of these medications in laboratory tests.

However, the same results have not been found in studies on people. On the other hand, there have been reports of both green and black tea extracts affecting a gene in prostate cancer cells that may make them less sensitive to chemotherapy drugs.

For that reason, people should talk to their doctors before drinking black and green tea or taking tea extracts while undergoing chemotherapy.

Clozapine Clozaril. The effects of the clozapine may be reduced if taken within 40 minutes after drinking green tea. When taken with ephedrine, green tea may cause agitation, tremors, insomnia, and weight loss. Green tea has been shown to reduce blood levels of lithium, a medication used to treat bipolar disorder.

That can make lithium less effective. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors MAOIs. Green tea may cause a severe increase in blood pressure, called a "hypertensive crisis," when taken together with these drugs used to treat depression. Examples of MAOIs include:. Birth control pills. Oral contraceptives can prolong the amount of time caffeine stays in the body, which may increase its stimulating effects.

A combination of caffeine, including caffeine from green tea, and phenylpropanolamine, used in many over-the-counter and prescription cough and cold medications and weight loss products, may cause mania and a severe increase in blood pressure.

The FDA issued a public health advisory in November to warn people of the risk of bleeding in the brain from use of this medication and urged all manufacturers of this drug to remove it from the market. Most drugs that contained phenylpropanolamine have been reformulated without it. Quinolone antibiotics.

Green tea may make these medications more effective and also increase the risk of side effects. These medications include:. Other medications. Green tea, especially caffeinated green tea, may interact with a number for medications, including:. To be safe, check with your health care provider before drinking or taking green tea if you also take other medications.

Baladia E, Basulto J, Manera M, Martinez R, Calbet D. Effect of green tea or green tea extract consumption on body weight and body composition: systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Hosp. Belza A, Toubro S, Astrup A. The effect of caffeine, green tea and tyrosine on thermogenesis and energy intake.

Eur J Clin Nutr. Bettuzzi S, Brausi M, Rizzi F, Castagnetti G, Peracchia G, Corti A. Chemoprevention of human prostate cancer by oral administration of green tea catechins in volunteers with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia: a preliminary report from a one-year proof-of-principle study.

Cancer Res. Borrelli F, Capasso R, Russo A, Ernst E. Systematic review: green tea and gastrointestinal cancer risk. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. Mar 1, ;19 5 Boschmann M, Thielecke F. The effects of epigallocatechingallate on thermogenesis and fat oxidation in obese men: a pilot study.

J Am Coll Nutr. Brown AL, Lane J, Holyoak C, Nicol B, Mayes AE, Dadd T. Health effects of green tea catechins in overweight and obese men: a randomised controlled cross-over trial.

Br J Nutr. Cooper R, Morre DJ, Morre DM. Medicinal benefits of green tea: Part I. Review of noncancer health benefits. J Altern Complement Med.

Diepvens K, Westerterp KR, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin and green tea.

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. Fritz H, Seely D, Kennedy DA, Fernandes R, Cooley K, Fergusson D. Green tea and lung cancer: a systemic review. Integr Cancer Ther. Fujita H, Yamagami T. Antihypercholesterolemic effect of Chinese black tea extract in human subjects with borderline hypercholesterolemia.

Nutr Res. Fukino Y, Ikeda A, Maruyama K, Aoki N, Okubo T, Iso H. Randomized controlled trial for an effect of green tea-extract powder supplementation on glucose abnormalities. Gross G, Meyer KG, Pres H, Thielert C, Tawfik H, Mescheder A. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.

Hartley L, Flowers N, Holmes J, et al. Green and black tea for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL.

Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. Hsu CH, Liao YL, Lin SC, Tsai TH, Huang CJ, Chou P. Does supplementation with green tea extract improve insulin resistance in obese type 2 diabetics?

A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Med Rev. Inoue M, Tajima K, Mizutani M, et al.

Learn more about our review process. Teas have all kinds of wonderful powers — they can help you fight off a cold and warm up on a rainy day.

They can also play a key role in an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. com and author of Read It Before You Eat It—Taking You from Label to Table. But when your immune system kicks into high gear even when there is nothing to fight off, that can cause chronic inflammation, which can could lead to certain diseases like diabetes, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis , Taub-Dix adds.

One of the ways to fight inflammation is to pay careful attention to what you eat, avoiding foods that cause inflammation, such as fried foods, red meat, sugary sodas and trans fats, and to lean into eating more foods that have anti-inflammatory properties, such as fatty fish, fresh berries, leafy greens and olive oil.

Drinking tea can help, too, since tea leaves are rich in natural compounds called polyphenols, which protect the body from inflammation. A large study published last year in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that drinking two cups of tea a day is associated with a lower mortality rate when compared with drinking no tea at all the effect was strongest for those who drink their tea straight, with no added milk or sugar.

It's worth noting when you're stressed out, your body releases hormones that can trigger inflammation, and what could be more stress-reducing than settling under a blanket with a nice cup of tea in your favorite mug?

Below, we boil down the facts for you about eight of the best anti-inflammatory teas. Perhaps the type of tea most synonymous with wellness, green tea has excellent potential anti-inflammatory benefits, says Alyssa Pacheco , RD. However, green tea should be consumed in moderation.

SHOP OUR TOP GREEN TEA PICK. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR TURMERIC TEA. Black tea, which is made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, is the most popular tea in the world.

Keep in mind that black tea naturally contains caffeine, so best to drink it in the morning. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR BLACK TEA. Ginger has been used in traditional medicine for centuries — it's a natural way to soothe an upset stomach, relieve nausea, and treat a cough.

Studies have shown that ginger has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and may be helpful in preventing gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological diseases.

You can slice a ginger root and boil it in water with lemon, or simply brew a bag of ginger tea. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR GINGER TEA. SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR OOLONG TEA. And indeed, pouring a cup at night can help you ease into your bedtime routine as well as address inflammation.

SHOP OUR TOP PICK FOR CHAMOMILE TEA. With less caffeine than its counterpart, white tea packs a powerful punch despite its light color and mild taste. We love this habit as a little 5-minute self-care ritual to kick off the day in Zen style.

Pictured Recipe : Soothing Ginger-Lemon Tea. As of June , when study results were published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition , we have another reason to keep calm and sip on.

Thanks to green tea's anti-inflammatory properties, consuming green tea was shown to reduce blood sugar levels and decrease gut inflammation and permeability.

The latter is one factor involved in "leaky gut syndrome ," which is based on the concept that a hyperpermeable gut can allow toxins or unwanted substances into the bloodstream. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University and Ohio State University were curious if green tea extract might help lower the risk for the health factors related to metabolic syndrome —a group of conditions that often occur together and increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more.

The more "boxes" of metabolic syndrome risk factors you can check, the greater the chances are that you'll develop serious health problems later in life, the Mayo Clinic explains. Here are four of the main conditions associated with metabolic syndrome:.

So for this study, Richard Bruno, Ph. Bruno and his team tapped 40 participants; 21 fit the criteria for metabolic syndrome and 19 didn't. Each was given gummies that contained catechins natural polyphenolic phytochemicals found in tea, beans, red wine, strawberries and select other plants.

The amount of catechins in each gummy was equal to what's found in five cups of green tea. The individuals were instructed to consume one gummy per day for 28 days.

They took a month's break, and each person popped a placebo for the following 28 days. Throughout the course of the research, the individuals were coached to eat a diet low in polyphenols since green tea is rich in it, and they didn't want to skew the study results if, say, one person ate an impressive amount of berries, apples and grapes.

Before the study began as well as on day 14 and 28 of both the gummy intervention phase and the placebo phase, scientists measured fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipids cholesterol and dietary polyphenol levels of each participant. They also asked for stool samples to study intestinal inflammation.

The result: Green tea extract was shown to lower blood sugar while reducing gut inflammation and permeability among people with metabolic syndrome and those without. Next, Bruno and other researchers are hoping to dive more into how green tea affects the microorganisms in the gut to hopefully discover if green tea can boost good bacteria while helping to decrease the amount of not-so-beneficial bugs in the gut.

This new green tea study found that consuming catechins from green tea extract—to the tune of what you'd sip in about five cups of green tea—can decrease blood sugar and increase gut health. It's worth noting, however, that this finding was from using an extract, not green tea itself.

More research is needed to determine if we could steer clear of the supplement aisle and still score the gut health , chronic inflammation and blood sugar benefits by drinking five cups of tea.

Oh yes, and five cups of tea admittedly is a lot. Drinking too much caffeinated tea might lead to nausea, heartburn, jittery feelings or difficulty sleeping, so it's best to stick with decaf and work your way up.

Even one glass per day, in tandem with a well-balanced whole foods-rich diet, will be a boon to your good gut bacteria, blood sugar and body as a whole. If you'd like to make it easier to ease up from zero cups to a few more, try:. Beyond what you drink, what you eat matters a lot, too.

In conjunction with your green tea-sipping, fill your cart with these best foods to fight inflammation and the best foods for gut health. If you'd like some more coaching, our 7-day whole food meal plan is a great start—as is individualized guidance from your primary care doctor and a registered dietitian.

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