What Is the Best Time To Drink Green Tea?

There must be something about green tea that the world can't seem to stop gushing about it. From Virat Kohli to Shraddha Kapoor, most of country's biggest fitness icons swear by the beverage. Green tea is a relatively newer variant of tea that is fast becoming popular, especially in the health and fitness circuit. The many health benefits of green tea and its specific role in aiding weight loss has made the drink a favourite go-to beverage for those conscious about their health and fitness. But before you start sipping this wonder beverage, have you ever wondered what could be the best time to drink green tea so that you can make the most of its health benefits?

Why is green tea good for you?

Unlike many other popular variants of tea, green tea does not undergo any oxidation process which makes it a healthier drink to sip on. There are many fragrant and herbal varieties of green tea available in the market to pick and choose from. Green tea has long been considered a healthier alternative to other beverages. It is known to bring down the 'bad' cholesterol or LDL levels and triglycerides - a set of fats that forms a sheath of plaque in your blood vessels making it difficult for the blood to flow. It is known to boost your metabolism and speed up the fat burning process. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids that not only boost your immunity but also protect you against cough and flu. The antioxidants present in green tea have also been linked to healthy hair and clear skin as shown by several scientific teas.
 

So, is there an ideal time to drink green tea? Here's what experts have to say

According to Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood, "While Green tea is loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols, it is still a type of tea that contains caffeine and hence I wouldn't recommend more than 3 cups a day. More than this can leave you dehydrated. If consumed in excess it will start eliminating essential elements too from your system. I always advice my clients to take a cup in the morning (around 10-11 a.m) or evening. Early morning can be a good time to drink green tea because your metabolism is the highest, which can be boosted with a nice hot cup of green tea. It is good to drink green tea in the evening too because that's when your metabolism tends to dip, so this could be your last shot to prolong your dipping metabolism."
(Also Read: How to Make a Perfect and Flavourful Cup of Green Tea)
Macrobiotic Nutritionist and Health Practitioner Shilpa Arora says, "Both morning and evening are fine to drink green tea. People who have sleep issues should avoid a cup later in the evening, as the caffeine intake may pose problem with their sleep."Consultant nutritionist Dr. Rupali Dutta tells us, "Mornings are the best time to have green tea, for its role in kick-starting the metabolism but you can also have it post-meal, as it is low in calories, and therefore, taking a cup after your meal wouldn't harm as much. Make sure you don't drink it right after your meal, observe a gap of at least an hour or two."So, remember restricting yourself to 2 to 3 cups a day. Moreover, drinking green tea too close to your bed time may hinder your sleep, so it is best to avoid it around that time.