Are All Teas Equally Good for the Body?
Green tea, oolong tea, and black tea all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
But the different processing of green tea prevents the EGCG compound (antioxidant) within it from being oxidized.
By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Read more about tea types.
Higher quality teas may have more catechin antioxidants than lower quality teas.
Freshly brewed teas have more polyphenol antioxidants than instant or bottled teas. Read more about tea brewing.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee. Read more about tea benefits.