Is Green Tea the Panacea We’ve Been Searching For? A Review of the Scientific Literature on Green Tea in Health

Green tea is claimed by news media and scientists alike to be a source of health benefits for many conditions in humans. However, with the supposed health benefits of green tea ranging from ultraviolet light protection to memory improvement to weight management, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Because tea is the most consumed beverage in the world, aside from water, even small beneficial health effects in humans could result in significant effects on global public health. I conducted a critical review of the research literature on green tea and human health and analysed the validity of these claims. While epidemiological studies look promising, clinical and laboratory trials to date are not compelling, requiring large doses and producing poorly defined benefits