What Happens to Your Blood Pressure When You Drink Green Tea

Green tea is a popular beverage that contains plant compounds linked to better heart health. Research shows it can help lower blood pressure slightly, but drinking too much can lead to problems like caffeine side effects or reduced iron absorption.

Blood pressure refers to the force exerted on the walls of your blood vessels. When this pressure is high for too long, it can damage organs and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, etc.

Along with other factors, stiff blood vessels can cause high blood pressure (hypertension). But that’s where green tea comes in: It contains antioxidants called catechins that can help the body relax blood vessels more easily. This allows for better blood circulation and possibly a lowering of blood pressure.

Green tea also contains compounds that may help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, a condition in which the body contains too many cell-damaging compounds called free radicals. Oxidative stress and inflammation can damage blood vessels and have been linked to high blood pressure. Drinking green tea can help reduce this type of damage to your cells, protecting heart function.

A 2025 study concluded that green tea supplements may cause a small but significant decrease in blood pressure. Additionally, a 2022 study found that green tea drinkers with high blood pressure did not have an increased risk of heart disease mortality.

Although some research suggests that the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in green tea may support healthy blood pressure, it is important to note that green tea does not act as a medicine.

Additionally, some research has even shown that high consumption of green tea may slightly increase the risk of hypertension. Additional studies are therefore necessary.

However, moderate amounts of green tea can be part of a healthy diet and can lead to significant changes in heart health when combined with exercise, a healthy diet, and reduced sodium intake.

Green tea is widely considered safe for most people. However, drinking too much can lead to health problems, including:

• Iron absorption problems: Green tea contains compounds called polyphenols that can interrupt the body’s ability to absorb non-heme iron or iron from plant sources. Some research has found that drinking tea with meals reduces iron absorption by at least 85%. Green tea is not generally associated with iron deficiency, although drinking large amounts could increase your risk.
• Side effects of caffeine: A 12-ounce cup of green tea contains about 37 milligrams of caffeine, which is significantly less than a standard cup of coffee. Yet drinking too much green tea can cause caffeine side effects such as rapid heart rate, nervousness, headaches, or trouble sleeping.
• Drug interactions: In very large doses, green tea may interact with nadolol, a medication for heart problems and high blood pressure. Other research suggests that catechins, the antioxidant found in green tea, may interact with other medications, including chemotherapies, high cholesterol medications, antibiotics, and more.

If you take green tea supplements, which are much more concentrated than a cup of tea, there are other potential risks. Higher doses of green tea supplement liver toxicity, high blood pressure, nausea and stomach pain.

For most healthy adults, drinking a few cups of green tea a day is considered safe and may additionally have beneficial effects on heart health. But people who are pregnant, have low iron levels, or are sensitive to caffeine should consider limiting their intake. It’s always a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional before adding any teas or supplements to your diet.