Does Green Tea Have Caffeine?
Green tea consumers may be under the impression that their favorite drink is caffeine-free, and while there are many decaffeinated versions available on the market today, natural green tea does contain caffeine.
Only herbal teas and decaffeinated products contain zero caffeine, which puts green tea on the forbidden list of those who are trying to cut it out completely.
How much caffeine does it have?
Whether you’re drinking coffee, black tea, or green tea, you’re getting a dose of caffeine, which makes it important to discover just how much you’re getting to avoid the headaches, restlessness, and anxiety associated with tipping over the edge of too much.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, adults should limit caffeine intake to an average of 300 milligrams per day. Having more than 600 milligrams will be harmful to your health and can result in death. Sodas, sweets, and energy drinks also contain caffeine, so it’s important to monitor your intake to be sure you stay in the healthy range.
Every cup of freshly brewed coffee contains between 125-200 milligrams of caffeine, and every cup of black tea contains an average of 80 milligrams, depending on the strength of the brew. 
Green tea contains only 25 milligrams per cup, which means that you will have a 60-80% reduction in caffeine if you make the switch.
Why Green Tea is Better than Coffee
Since its discovery over 4000 years ago, green tea has become known as one of the healthiest drinks on earth, offering polyphenols, antioxidants, caffeine, and a heap of powerful natural compounds.
While coffee contains as much as 200 milligrams of caffeine, every cup of green tea contains only 25 milligrams, offering a gentle energy boost without any negative side effects.
It also offers a powerful compound known as L-Theanine, which is linked to improving brain function, nervous system function, reducing anxiety, and increasing the quality of deep sleep cycles. This powerful substance stimulates the production of serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain, giving you a boost in concentration, focus, memory and overall cognitive function: Winner!
Green tea also helps to keep the cells in your body alert, alive, and functioning properly due to its high level of alkalinity, while the high acidity of coffee does exactly the opposite.
What is green tea made from?
Surprisingly, green tea originates from the same plant as black tea, known as the Camellia sinensis.
The difference is in the way that the leaves are processed, with green tea leaves subjected to a light steam before being left to dry, while black tea leaves are fermented and oxidized. This makes green tea the most natural and gently processed tea on the market, with its highly level of natural antioxidants and polyphenols still intact and the gorgeous green color swirling to health in every cup.
What are the 5 main benefits of drinking green tea?
1..The lower dose of caffeine compared to coffee translates to a gentler, yet highly effective energy boost without rattling your nerves.
2. The L-Theanine improves memory, focus, concentration, and the overall function of your brain, while also stimulating a feeling of peace and happiness throughout your body.
3. The high level of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories helps to naturally detoxify your entire body, which makes you look and feel younger and stronger
4. Green tea helps to stimulate fat burn by as much as 18%, giving your body and metabolism exactly what it needs to shed the excess layers.
5. Research has shown that green tea helps to reduce the rate of mortality by as much as 70%, helping to lower the risk of developing cancer and heart disease significantly. The powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, along with the incredible alkalinity of green tea, makes it one of the greatest investments for long-term health.
Sources:
https://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2005.11.521
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0083672901620016
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tcr.20039/full
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13590840802518785
https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/6/1040.short
https://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/18/1/55.short
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/009174359290041F
