Green tea is a calorie-free beverage, packed with polyphenols (plant compounds) and minerals. Matcha, a form of green tea made from green tea leaves, boasts a higher antioxidant content and offers similar health advantages.
Honey is a natural sweetener, primarily composed of carbohydrates. One teaspoon of honey typically provides about 6 g of sugar and 20-21 calories. It is frequently used to soothe sore throat symptoms, aid antibacterial action, and promote wound healing. The combination of green tea and honey can amplify antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, while also boosting immune support.
Alleviating cold and flu symptoms
While warm teas and honey both help reduce sore throat symptoms, combining green tea with honey offers more comprehensive benefits than simply soothing the throat. This pairing can help manage common cold and flu symptoms and reduce their risk. Adding honey to green tea makes it more palatable by reducing bitterness, encouraging fluid intake when ill.
Beneficial for oral health
Some recent studies suggest that drinking green tea with honey may help reduce the risk of tooth decay. A small study observed that consuming green tea and honey reduced *Streptococcus mutans* bacteria, a primary cause of cavities, in the oral cavities of young boys.
Previous research also noted that honey is less detrimental to teeth than refined sugar. However, further large-scale studies are needed to determine safe dosages and better assess its true oral protective efficacy.
Supporting diabetes management
To manage blood sugar, people with diabetes should prioritize unsweetened beverages. However, combining green tea with a small amount of honey can be safe and offer certain benefits. Green tea helps improve insulin sensitivity, supporting reductions in fasting blood sugar and HbA1c (average blood sugar over two to three months).
Honey may offer more benefits for individuals with diabetes compared to some refined sugars. When consumed in moderation, about one to two teaspoons (5-10 ml) daily, honey's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help reduce the risk of diabetes complications. However, this amount of honey must be factored into the total daily carbohydrate intake to avoid impacting blood sugar control.
Note: Green tea contains caffeine. Individuals sensitive to caffeine or who are pregnant should limit their intake to only one or two cups per day. Caffeine in green tea can disrupt sleep, so it is best to limit consumption in the afternoon or evening, unless it is decaffeinated tea. It is recommended to keep added sugar intake, including honey, under 10% of daily calories.
*Bao Bao (According to Healthline)*
