Green tea is an incredible beverage when it comes to men’s health, helping to boost immunity, fight prostate cancer, and a variety of other cancer types. Its benefits extend to those with an enlarged prostate as it promotes a normal prostate size and manages urinary symptoms. Green tea’s abilities as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent have also been proven to be beneficial for prostatitis.
The Power of Green Tea: Catechins
The antioxidants found in green tea are called catechins. One of the strongest catechins in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The health benefits associated with green tea, particularly those related to prostate health, have been shown to increase with higher levels of green tea or EGCG dosage. Green tea leaves are not oxidized like those found in black tea, enabling them to retain essential substances that make this tea highly potent.
Green Tea and Prostate Cancer
Green tea helps slow the growth of prostate cancer cells, causes the cancer cells to die, and stimulates immune cells that fight cancerous tumors. One study discovered that a daily intake of 600 mg (three 200 mg tablets) of green tea extract reduced the risk of developing prostate cancer in men with precancerous lesions. The World Health Organization reports that countries with high green tea consumption, like Japan – where more than 10 cups are consumed daily, have a prostate cancer rate approximately three times lower than the United States.
While dietary differences may also play a role, numerous studies on green tea and prostate cancer have shown that the risk of prostate cancer is proportional to the amount and frequency of green tea consumption.
Green Tea and Enlarged Prostate
The catechins in green tea help reduce men’s risks of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, by promoting normal prostate size. The powerful antioxidants in green tea help manage urinary symptoms associated with BPH and make it one of the top natural treatments for urinary tract infections. Research has shown that green tea’s catechins regulate DHT production and hormones that influence a man’s prostate volume and PSA levels.
Reading Green Tea Labels
When considering green tea supplements or brewable teas, read the product labels to determine the EGCG levels. The amount of EGCG is usually around half the amount of green tea extract in a product, so a daily intake of 600 mg (three 200 mg tablets) of highly concentrated green tea extract provides 454 mg of catechins (of which 311 are EGCG).
Green tea supplement labels should include information on the species name of the plant and the part of the plant used to make the tea, as well as information about the ingredients used in the capsule. This is a requirement of the Food and Drug Administration.
Maximizing Green Tea Benefits
Affordability is important when it comes to choosing green tea as a supplement. Some of the most affordable options for getting quality green tea are supplement tablets. Bottled green tea beverages can be more expensive and often provide less green tea benefit for your money, not to mention some products include unwanted sweeteners.
Quality brewable teas with high ECGC levels are also an option at a low cost. However, teas with nylon filters are best avoided because nylon seems to bind with EGCG and catechins, resulting in lower levels being added to the tea.
Tea does not need to steep for more than three minutes to get the EGCG benefits. It’s also important to be aware of potential lead levels in tea leaves from China, likely due to pollution. While this isn’t a major risk, using a filter (such as a tea bag, the built-in filter of a Keurig K-Cup, or a fine strainer) is sufficient to keep the lead from entering the tea and being ingested. Remember not to swallow the actual tea leaves, as researchers have found lead only in the leaves. Teas from Japan have not shown measurable lead levels. Lastly, pay attention to caffeine levels, as caffeine should be avoided for prostate health, especially if you have BPH.