Tea Blog Menu

Is Green Tea Good for Arthritis

Posted by CTH Blog 05/15/2022 09:00:00 0 Comments

There’s more to tea than just a delicious flavor. With many proven benefits, green tea is one of the healthiest drinks in the world. But is green tea good for arthritis? How exactly can it help?

Let’s see what the science says.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a common disease that affects both young and old people. It’s an inflammation of joints that causes pain, swelling and mobility problems [1]. Although a common assumption is that arthritis is a disease that appears later in life, it can affect younger people, too. There are many types of arthritis, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common ones [2].

As there’s no cure for arthritis, only treatments to make the illness manageable, alternative options may offer a much needed hope for people affected by this disease. Only in the US, over 15% of people have arthritis [3], which is far from being negligible.

What causes arthritis?

Arthritis can appear because of many reasons, including genes, age, lifestyle choices and injuries [4]. While we cannot change our genes or prevent aging (at least not yet), we can choose a healthier lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing arthritis.

Can tea help to reduce the symptoms? Or can a cuppa prevent arthritis in the first place?

Is green tea good for arthritis?

No other drink has been a subject to so many studies as green tea has. Green tea is made from the same Camellia sinensis plant leaves as other tea types (white, yellow, oolong, black and dark). However, each type will have a slightly different chemical composition.

green tea and arthritis

Green tea is abundant in catechins that may provide a strong antioxidant boost and provide a myriad of benefits. The most beneficial catechin in green tea is EGCG. It’s been studied for obesity, cancer, chron's disease, different inflammatory diseases, diabetes, skin conditions and many others. And for arthritis as well. Studies concluded - it may actually help.

3 ways green tea may help with arthritis

But the help may not be as straightforward as some may expect. Green tea is not a miracle cure, and drinking a cup won’t remove all health problems instantly. However, according to science, regular tea drinking combined with a healthier lifestyle, may do a lot of good for people having arthritis.

1. Green tea may reduce inflammation

One of the best benefits of drinking green tea for arthritis may be the ability to reduce inflammation. Since arthritis is an inflammatory disease, reducing or preventing inflammation may either prevent it in the first place, or help manage the symptoms. Studies showed that green tea may be a great alternative to drugs in treating both osteoarthritis [5] and rheumatoid arthritis [6] as it has no toxicity or serious side effects. But if the regular drugs are still needed, green tea may help reduce their negative side effects [7] and make treatment much more comfortable. Lifestyle choices such as smoking may have a negative impact on developing arthritis, too. Studies showed that drinking 2 cups of tea per day may help reduce the risk of arthritis in smokers by 50% [8].

2. Green tea may give an energy and antioxidant boost to help your exercise

Physical exercise is important to keep both your body and mind healthy, and arthritis is no different. Lack of physical activity may make the symptoms of arthritis worse [9], speed up the disease progress and negatively influence the mood. Although arthritis is a joint disease, studies suggest that exercise won’t negatively influence your joints unless there’s a proper injury [10].

So how can green tea help? Green tea contains caffeine that may help boost energy and reduce fatigue. Although some studies have found that coffee may increase the risk of arthritis, tea doesn’t [11]. Next, EGCG may help to reduce oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals that are produced during exercise [12] and fight the inflammation to help you recover faster.

Not only can exercise make you feel mentally better, but green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that may help improve mood even more. Besides, L-theanine may also help reduce inflammation and help in preventing osteoarthritis too [13].

3. Green tea may promote weight-loss

Green tea may help you lose weight. No, green tea is not a miracle drink, but it may have a slight impact on body weight. Studies showed that green tea may help reduce body weight and body fat, [14] help you spend more calories, burn more fat and reduce food intake [15]. However, expect better benefits by combining exercise and healthy eating with daily tea intake.

So, is tea good for arthritis?

According to studies, tea may provide many benefits for people with arthritis. While green tea may be the best choice for arthritis, other teas may help with the inflammation, too. One study showed that drinking herbal tea may also have a tiny effect on reducing the risk of arthritis [16].

If you are not a tea drinker and have arthritis, consult your doctor about any potential side effects of including tea into your diet. And keep in mind, tea is not a miracle cure and cannot replace real medicine.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult your doctor if you suffer from any health issues and never use tea or supplements for self-treatment.