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Green Tea and Lung Health: Cup Versus Extract
Many studies link green tea drinking with good health, but they are observational and cannot prove it protects the lungs. A capsule of extract is a different product, with its own cautions, including caffeine and rare liver injury at high doses. PureLung lists green tea extract last in its blend.
Written by the PureLung label deskUpdated · 5 min read
What is the research on drinking tea?
Researchers have followed large groups of people for years and compared tea drinkers with others. These studies often find better health in drinkers. They also cannot rule out that tea drinkers differ in other ways, such as diet, exercise and smoking. For the lungs the findings are mixed and not strong enough to say tea protects them (NCCIH, Green Tea).
What a cup contains
A cup of green tea has caffeine, around a quarter to half that of brewed coffee, and compounds called catechins. Amounts vary with the leaf, the water temperature and the steeping time. Adding milk or sugar changes the drink but not the research.
How an extract differs
An extract concentrates the catechins, sometimes in doses much higher than a few cups. High-dose extracts have been linked to rare liver injury, particularly on an empty stomach. Capsule labels vary, and the amount of extract and caffeine may not be printed.
Dark urine, yellow skin or eyes, and strong pain in the upper stomach after starting a tea extract are reasons to stop and call a clinician.
Where it sits in PureLung
Green tea extract is eleventh of eleven, with a ceiling of about 55 mg per serving, and the real amount is not printed. At that weight it would be a small part of the capsule. See the green tea extract post for the details.
If you drink tea
A few habits keep the cup pleasant and reduce the small risks that come with it.
- Count caffeine from all sources, and avoid tea late in the evening if sleep is light.
- Do not drink very hot tea, which can irritate the throat and gullet.
- Tea can reduce iron absorption, so leave a gap from iron pills and meals if you have low iron.
- Ask a pharmacist if you take heart medicine, a blood thinner or a stimulant.
PureLung: 60 capsules a bottlePacks of 1, 3 or 6 bottles · live price shown at checkout · guarantee as printed on the live listing
See packsWhat tea cannot do
It cannot undo smoking damage, treat COPD or replace an inhaler. The CDC and ALA recommend not smoking, clean air and activity (ALA, Tips to Keep Your Lungs Healthy). A cup of tea fits well beside those and does not stand in for them.
What does the PureLung label say?
The label shows 60 capsules, a serving of 2 and a 600 mg Proprietary Blend of eleven names with no single amount; it names no disease.
| Item | As printed |
|---|---|
| Form and count | Capsules, 60 per bottle; serving size 2 capsules; 30 servings |
| Blend per serving | Proprietary Blend, 600 mg: eleven names, no single amount printed |
| Inactive | Rice Flour, Magnesium Stearate, Silica Dioxide |
| Distributor | MJO, Sheridan, WY 82801 |
Bottom line
Enjoy tea as a drink if you like it. Treat an extract capsule as a supplement with cautions, and talk to your clinician if you plan to take it daily.
3-bottle pack
3 bottles: 180 capsules
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Order 6 bottlesPrices are filled in once the live listing is confirmed. A single bottle is also sold. Check your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist before you order, and keep using every inhaler and prescribed medicine.
FAQ01
PureLung questions people ask
Does green tea clean the lungs?
No evidence shows that.
Is green tea safe for asthma?
Usually, but caffeine affects some people.
How many cups are fine?
Many adults drink a few cups a day. Ask your clinician.
Is decaf as good?
It has fewer stimulants, and research is limited.
Is an extract safer than tea?
No. Extracts have their own risks.
Who wrote this02
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label images, seller information and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. authorized retailer for PureLung. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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