Therapeutic herb
Green Tea
L-theanine + caffeine combo gives "alert calm" without crash.
Active compounds
- EGCG
- L-theanine
- caffeine
Recommended daily intake
2–4 cups, or 1/2–1 tsp matcha
Best cooking method
Steep at 175°F (not boiling) for 1-3 min; matcha whisked
Flavor profile
Grassy, slightly bitter, umami in matcha
Conditions this herb supports
Pairs with these cuisines
Safety + contraindications
Caffeine — limit in pregnancy. Heavy EGCG supplements rare liver issue.
This information is educational, not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before therapeutic-dose use, especially during pregnancy, lactation, or when on prescription medication.
Scientific research
Peer-reviewed studies cited from NIH PubMed. Click any PMID to read the abstract.
- meta-analysis2009
The effects of green tea on weight loss and weight maintenance: a meta-analysis
Hursel R, Viechtbauer W, Westerterp-Plantenga MS
EGCG + caffeine in green tea produces modest weight-loss + maintenance effect (~1.3 kg/12 weeks).
PubMed PMID: 26545680 - cohort2006
Green tea consumption and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes in Japan: the Ohsaki study
Kuriyama S et al.
40,530-person Japanese cohort: 5+ cups/day green tea associated with lower all-cause + cardiovascular mortality.
PubMed PMID: 23364008
Studies summarized for plain-English understanding. Read the full abstract on PubMed for methodology, sample size, and limitations.