What Makes Green Tea Such A Powerful Superfood

If you rely on a daily dose of caffeine to get you moving each morning, it's likely you brew a cup or two of coffee. But did you know that green tea is a great alternative to java? Don't roll your eyes just yet. A cup of green tea packs a decent amount of caffeine without the crash that often follows shortly after consuming a cup of joe. While the average 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 95 mg of caffeine, per Food Network, the same serving size cup of green tea contains approximately 28 mg of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

Since coffee provides more than three times as much caffeine as green tea, if you're sensitive to caffeine or feel anxious after drinking a cup, green tea may be a great (and slightly less caffeinated) option. You may want to reach for a cup of green tea (and if you do, we recommend these green tea brands) to reap its many nutritional and health benefits, too. Here's why green tea is considered such a powerful superfood.

For starters, what exactly is a superfood? According to the Cleveland Clinic, the term is used to designate a food that's naturally nutrient-dense and low in calories that helps to boost your body's immune function. Green tea is considered a superfood because its leaves are packed with catechin, a potent antioxidant that is known to protect your cells from damage while also preventing a number of types of cancer, per the National Library of Medicine.

As it's packed with antioxidants, green tea has a number of health benefits and can help reduce inflammation in the body, according to Healthline. It can also protect you against heart disease, support bone health, boost your memory, lower your cholesterol, and may even prevent your risk of stroke, as reported by Health. When brewing your next cup, consider stirring a small amount of maple syrup into your cup of green tea, as the sweet ingredient is a great way to amp up the flavors of your tea while sweetening it naturally.