Green Tea - How Safe is the Caffeine Content?
filed in Green Tea on August 26th, 2008
As a long time lover of green tea, I immensely enjoy the many different types, flavors, and awesome health benefits of green tea. Even…the health benefit of the caffeine in green tea. Yes caffeine! Now I know there’s a lot of talk right now about caffeine and all the harmful side effects it can have. And it’s true, caffeine can have negative side effects depending on how much of it you consume. But keep reading and you’ll get a taste (no pun intended) of what the caffeine content in a cup of green tea actually does for you.
Now this may be hard to believe, but studies have shown that moderate caffeine consumption has been found to be good for your health. Caffeine can make you feel great by giving you an energy boost, uplifting your mood and accelerating your heart beat.
But what happens is that a lot of people drink or eat way too much of it. This will definitely lead to side effects like feeling nervous, anxious, depressed, feeling drowsy, not being able to sleep at night, and numerous other problems.
A cup of coffee contains 85-150 milligrams of caffeine and a can of soda contains anywhere from 40-80 or even more milligrams. The daily recommended caffeine intake is 200 milligrams.
So by drinking 2 or more cups of coffee or cans of soda, you’ve gone over your limit and may start to feel some of the negative effects of caffeine.
Now… a cup of green tea averages only 8 to 35 milligrams of caffeine. Even by drinking 4-8 cups of green tea you will not have reached your daily recommended caffeine intake! That is great news! (One side note-black tea contains about twice as much caffeine as green tea.)
The caffeine content in a cup of green tea is at just the right level to give you an energy boost and feel so refreshed! And you won’t feel anxious and uptight like you might by drinking a cup of coffee or soda.
I’m amazed at the difference in the caffeine content of green tea and coffee. If you’re experiencing some of the side effects of drinking too much coffee or soda, why not try drinking green tea instead for a couple days. You may be surprised at how much more relaxed and alert you feel. Not to mention you’ll also be experiencing all the other great health benefits of drinking green tea!
