Black Tea vs. Green Tea: Which is Healthier?

Antioxidant Powers of Green and Black Tea

While you might assume green tea contains more polyphenols (a certain type of antioxidant) compared to black tea, researchers at the Institute for Cancer Prevention in Valhalla, New York, say “not so fast.”

Green and black teas originate from the same tea plant—Camellia sinensis [pronounced like camellia sinensis] which means both green and black brews contain similar amounts of polyphenols that block DNA damage from tobacco and other environmental toxins at the same rate, according to lab studies.

Green Tea Prevents Alzheimer’s Disease

However, studies from the National Cancer Institute indicate that as far as polyphenols go, green tea is the richer brew in an active and specific catechin, known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (or EGCG).

Multiple studies tout the powers of green tea when it comes to protecting age-related memory loss. The NCI study also links green tea specifically to improved memory and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Black Tea Lowers Parkinson’s Disease Risk

Black tea, on the other hand, while low in concentrations of EGCG, is richer in the polyphenols, thearubigins and theaflavins, which have been linked to reduced risk of high cholesterol, Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, and kidney stones.

According to the findings in a report from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, consuming black tea, and not green tea, significantly reduces the overall risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Endless Health Benefits in Both Brews

While endless human and animal studies tell us the powerful antioxidants in black and green teas are extremely beneficial to our health, the proof is in the pot…in this case it’s a pot of tea!

It turns out there are numerous other health factors in both brews, which may explain why black tea is the most popular tea sipped across the United States and Europe—while green tea is the most popular brew in Japan and China.

Green and Black Tea for Overall Health

In the end both brews still hunt down cell-damaging free radicals and ruthlessly purify the body. This is, in part, thanks to the rich polyphenol content in each brew, but also due to another antioxidant trifecta, known as the flavonoids—thearubigins, catechins, and epicatechins—that also lend a one, two, three punch to harmful free radical toxins.

Both black and green teas have been linked to significantly decreasing cancerous tumor growth, boosting metabolism to aid weight loss, improving skin and bone strength, and even to warding off chronic diseases, like stroke, heart disease, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Green Tea Protects the Heart and Prevents Cancer

Green tea, for example, has been associated with reducing heart attack and stroke. In fact, research from the University of Maryland Medical Center found that folks who sipped 3 or more cups of green tea each day reduced their total risk of heart disease by lowering LDL (or bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Additional studies from the University of Maryland (U of M) also note that green tea, and green tea extract, significantly lowered the multiplication rate of cancer cells in the skin, stomach, esophagus, colon, lungs, bladder pancreas, ovaries, and breasts. For instance, the study conducted on males, indicated that men who drank green tea regularly increased their survival rates by 5-years compared to men who didn’t sip green tea.  Another U of M study on premenopausal women with early stage breast cancer, also found that green-tea-drinking of up to 5-cups per day slowed the spread of cancer and lowered rates of cancer return following treatment.

Black Tea for Energy and Metabolism

When it comes to caffeine content, the National Cancer Institute determines that the wake up call is more potent in black teas (about 64- to 112-milligrams of caffeine is present per 8-ounce serving) whereas green tea only contains about 24- to 39-milligrams per 8-ounce serving. As far as promoting energy, alertness, and weight loss, black tea earns major points thanks to research from WebMd, which pinpoints higher caffeine and higher content of a substance, called theophylline, both of which studies suggest accelerate heart rate, boost metabolism, and promote energy.

Additionally, studies published by the National Institutes of Health, note that black tea produces significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad) cholesterol, which aids the overall prevention of cardiovascular disease.

A Note on Caffeine…

If you’re concerned about caffeine intake, put decaf in your mug starting at midday. Decaf or full caffeine. Either way—if you reach for full caffeine or half caffeine—it won’t affect the flavonoid content.

However, if you have an existing condition or are taking prescribed medication, it’s always best to check with your healthcare provider as sipping large amounts of green or black tea with caffeine can cause lack of sleep, heart palpitations, irritability, and dizziness.