Is Green Tea a Diuretic: Types of Green Teas and the Effects


Tea Facts /

We all are susceptible to diuretic effects from food and drink. But there are certain triggers that these foods and drinks contain that prompt effects in people – to a lesser or greater degree. Green tea can be one of those drinks, begging the question for many – is green tea a diuretic?

So in this article, I’ll be going through the aspects of green tea that make it a potential diuretic for some. Let’s start with a quick summary answer to get us started.

Because green tea is a true tea variety it contains caffeine which is a natural diuretic. The diuretic effect of green tea is less than black tea and higher than white tea. Matcha is also high in diuretic effects. Sweetening your green tea can increase the diuretic effects further.

Well, that’s the quick answer, but we should probably go more in-depth in order to answer this sufficiently. Starting with the main question of why green tea is diuretic

Why green tea is a diuretic

In general, it’s not just green tea, all types of tea are considered to have diuretic effects. 

This is because true tea varieties made using “Camellia Sinensis” will contain caffeine which is a natural diuretic.

Caffeine intake increases the blood flow to your kidneys. This spurs them on to release more water through urine, thereby causing diuretic effects.

So like any other tea variety, green tea also has caffeine and is considered to have diuretic effects. Meaning, drinking green tea may increase your peeing frequency or the need to urinate.

Apart from this, as tea also has water, the increased water intake consequently also supports the production of urine, urging you to pee often.

is green tea a diuretic

How diuretic is green tea compared to other teas

The diuretic effects of green tea are mild when consumed in limited quantities, and when compared to other main tea varieties.

This is because green tea is less processed and so has less caffeine when compared to high-processed tea varieties like black tea.

The diuretic effects of green tea are mild and may not even be apparent if you are not susceptible to diuretic effects, and if you only consume one to two cups per day. However, its diuretic effects may be higher than white tea, as white tea has less caffeine when compared to green tea.

On average, an eight-ounce cup of black, green, and white tea has 60 to 90 milligrams, 35 to 70 milligrams, and 30 to 55 milligrams of caffeine.

Tea typeCaffeine (milligrams)
Black tea60 – 90 mg
Green tea35 – 70 mg
White tea30 – 55 mg

But, the actual caffeine content can vary depending on a number of factors.

Most importantly, it’s best to say that some high-quality green tea may contain more caffeine than a low-quality black tea and so may cause more noticeable diuretic effects. 

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What about matcha, is matcha tea a diuretic

Matcha is a green tea that has been ground into a fine powder. It tends to be bright green in color and is prepared using a special brewing method.

Matcha is considered a diuretic as it is a powdered form of green tea. Green tea contains caffeine which can cause diuretic effects. One serving of Matcha contains more caffeine content than a standard cup of green tea, so diuretic effects in matcha could be greater than standard green tea.

On average a cup of matcha (8-ounce) has around 70mg of caffeine. This is almost the same amount of caffeine as black tea.

The caffeine content in Matcha is also not very far from a cup of coffee that has anywhere from 70 to 140 mg of caffeine per cup (8 ounces).

So the takeaway is, as Matcha has more caffeine than green tea, it can have greater diuretic effects – almost similar to that of black tea.

And in case you were wondering if adding sweeteners might negate the effects of green tea as a diuretic, then you might want to read on.

matcha powder in a bowl
matcha powder in a bowl

Sweeteners increase the diuretic effects

Firstly, there are different brewing factors that can affect the caffeine content in your green tea and therefore its diuretic effects.

If you decide to add sweeteners such as sugar or honey, it can increase the diuretic effects of your green tea further. This is because table sugar and even some types of honey can cause diuretic effects in green tea – which compound the effects of caffeine. 

Biologically it works like this, when your body digests sugar, it needs a greater amount of water to dilute and process it.

So your body will force and extract water from almost all the places in your body to break down the sugar and balance the sugar in your bloodstream.

This increase of fluid delivered to your kidneys will make you want to urinate often in order to flush out your system – causing diuretic effects.

Is green tea extract a diuretic?

Green tea extract is considered to be a diuretic. This is because it is derived from green tea leaves and contains caffeine content. Many energy drinks and supplements contain green tea extract. It still retains basic green tea benefits such as catechins and antioxidants.

Is jasmine green tea a diuretic

The jasmine in jasmine green tea would not be sufficient enough to cause any diuretic effects. But the green tea content in jasmine green tea does contain caffeine and can potentially cause diuretic effects. However, effects depend on the volume of green tea leaves included in the drink.

Drinking jasmine tea on its own does not pose any risk of increased diuretic effects.

Is diet green tea a diuretic

Even though calories in diet green tea are extremely low, it is still made from green tea leaves. The caffeine content in green tea is sufficient enough to cause potential diuretic effects.

Be sure to stick to how many cups of green tea you can drink safely per day. And when to drink green tea, other than for enjoyment purposes largely depends on your desired outcomes.

Here’s more on the caffeine content in green tea.

Is Arizona green tea a diuretic

As Arizona tea is derived from green tea leaves, it will contain caffeine. For this reason, Arizona green tea can cause diuretic effects in some people. The greater the quantity consumed daily, the greater the potential for diuretic effects.

With Arizona green tea, I think it’s a case of drinking it in moderation, according to experts, there are other factors within this drink that may be considered unhealthy.

Is iced green tea a diuretic

Iced green tea will potentially cause diuretic effects. Despite the water content, diuretic effects are solely based on the amount of green tea used in making the Iced tea. Green tea contains caffeine which is a known source for inducing diuretic effects.

I have an entire article devoted to whether Iced tea is a diuretic and its effects. And here are more facts about Iced tea.

But as with most other green tea, in fact, all tea, it’s about taking tea in moderation. Consult my article on how many cups of tea to drink per day. It gives more guidance on a healthier amount of tea to consume – for each type

Is lipton green tea a diuretic

I’ve written extensively about Lipton Yellow label tea, so reading that here may provide some further help. But in terms of answering this specific question.

Lipton green tea is made from the true tea plant and therefore contains caffeine. It is considered to have potentially diuretic effects. 

Which tea is the least diuretic?

Most teas have a decaffeinated option, be it green, black, white, or oolong. Decaf tea does not remove caffeine completely. But it reduces it to around 2% of the original value of around 5% caffeine. Any tea from the tea plant will contain caffeine which is the main cause of diuretic effects.

I probably should reiterate, the decaffeination process does not completely strip tea of its caffeine content. There is a residual value of around 2% caffeine that will remain. When it comes to diuretic effects, any decaf tea is deemed to be relatively harmless.

More green tea help

Having said all this, and as a tea connoisseur, it’s fair to say that the effects overall (at least for me) are fairly mild. In fact, I find coffee to be a more harsh diuretic for me – if that’s any indication.

So don’t let this fact put you off, all caffeine-based drinks will carry some degree of diuretic effect which will vary per person. Trying teas out will help you understand how sensitive you are to caffeine and enable you to gauge how much tea to drink too.

More tea help…

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