The green tea caffeine content is not that high, only about 30-50 mg per eight ounce cup. But, if you are interested in getting the health benefits, without increasing your daily caffeine intake, you could always take a supplement. Just be selective when you buy one.

Some of the manufactures actually include additional caffeine. This is particularly true in the fat burners and appetite suppressants. Read the label of ingredients and stay away from the ones that contain extra. A supplement that contains 60 mg of the extract would have a negligible caffeine content, perhaps 2-4mg.

Green tea supplements may be beneficial to the heart, the kidneys, the brain and the digestive system. It may also reduce your risk of cancer. These benefits are due primarily to the antioxidant content, although new research seems to indicate that moderate daily caffeine-intake reduces the risk of Alzheimer's. So, we probably will get the most benefit from an extract that is not decaffeinated.

If you are worried about the green tea caffeine content, but you enjoy the beverage, you might consider a decaffeinated variety. You would be better off using a double steep method at home. In order to decaffeinate the leaves, manufacturers use solvents, which are not good for your health. Some of them may be carcinogens.

To decaffeinate at home, you would steep the leaves for up to one minute, then discard that cup. The next cup can be steeped to your desired strength and color. This would greatly reduce the green tea caffeine content, although some folks say that you give up a little flavor too. It really depends on what's most important to you.

Is taking a supplement as good for your health as drinking the teas? The best supplements contain essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids, to reduce your risk of deficiency. They also contain a variety of plant extracts. There are a growing number of health experts who believe the right combination of ingredients, used on a daily basis, can reduce your risk of all kinds of health problems and possibly extend your lifespan.

Even those who are opposed to supplementation agree that the different antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables with vibrant colors are good for your health. Many of them have anti-inflammatory activity, and chronic inflammation plays a role in both heart disease and cancer. Of course, it is also responsible for the pain of arthritis.

The green tea caffeine content may reduce your risk of some diseases, but it is the antioxidants (catechins and gallic acid) that are natural anti-inflammatories. Other natural anti-inflammatories include omega3 fish oil, alpha lipoic acid, carnosine, turmeric, glutathione and resveratrol.

It is nearly impossible to get all of these through eating alone. Further, recent studies have shown that are foods are not as nutritious as they once were, particularly when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Now that you know a little more about the green tea caffeine content, you might want to learn about important nutrients that are necessary for good health.