Is Green Tea a Diuretic?

Green tea is a popular tea known for its earthy flavor, calming properties, and health benefits, but is green tea considered a diuretic? The short answer is…yes, green tea is a mild diuretic. Green tea contains small amounts of both caffeine and theophylline. Theophylline has a similar chemical structure as caffeine and acts as a diuretic in a similar way. A diuretic is a substance that helps your body get rid of excess fluid (1, 2).

When Do You Need a Diuretic?

When your body holds onto excess fluid, you will often notice uncomfortable swelling or puffiness throughout the body. This swelling and puffiness often occurs in the legs, feet, hands, arms, face, and sometimes the abdomen. This swelling or fluid build-up is called edema.  

Edema is a common problem for many. Edema can occur in certain medical conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, arthritis, lymphedema, kidney disease, PCOS, cirrhosis, and thyroid conditions, like Hashimoto’s disease (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Hashimoto’s, for example, can cause puffiness in the face, legs, and calves (7).

Edema can also occur under other circumstances as well. Chronic inflammation, poor quality diets, sinus infections, hormone changes, varicose veins and venous insufficiency, chronic stress, lack of sleep, asthma, and allergic reactions can all cause edema. Swelling can even occur after standing or sitting for long periods of time regardless of other medical conditions (4, 8, 9).

Swelling and puffiness are more common as we age and sometimes the cause of the swelling and puffiness is unknown.

Reducing Edema, Swelling, and Puffiness by Reducing Inflammation

Diuretics help relieve the edema symptoms, but when we focus on reducing inflammation, we are focusing on treating one root cause of edema. In fact, chronic inflammation is one major contributing factor to edema. Therefore, reducing inflammation is crucial when it comes to reducing swelling and puffiness. Certain foods, like refined carbohydrates, sugar, fried foods, and ultra-processed meats and packaged foods can increase inflammation. Anti-inflammatory substances like Bromelain, Quercetin, Cornsilk, Rutin, Ginger, Green Tea, and Turmeric can help reduce inflammation (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18).

You can find quercetin in many fruits and vegetables like apples, asparagus, broccoli, and berries. You can also flavor your favorite dishes with Turmeric and black pepper or ginger. You can get those green tea antioxidants from drinking a nice warm cup of green tea. All these foods are great sources of anti-inflammatory antioxidants, but you can also get all of these helpful anti-inflammatory substances in one place- Swell No More Supplements.

The Best Natural Supplement for Edema, Swelling, and Puffiness

Based on the research above, the most helpful supplement for edema is going to combine diuretics with anti-inflammatory substances. SwellNoMore contains a combination of diuretics and anti-inflammatories, including green tea extract. Some other know diuretics in SwellNoMore are Dandelion Root, Juniper Berry, Ginger, Parsley, and Cornsilk, to name a few. SwellNoMore also contains anti-inflammatories like Quercetin, Cornsilk, Rutin, Ginger, Green Tea, and Turmeric (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28). To get the benefits of Turmeric, turmeric needs to be consumed in combination with black pepper. The fact that SwellNoMore contains black pepper shows me that SwellNoMore creators paid attention to the details. SwellNoMore also contains potassium and Magnesium in order to replace any magnesium and potassium that could be lost in the excreted fluid.

Other Benefits of Green Tea

Many of these anti-inflammatory ingredients provide other benefits and green tea is no exception. Green tea contains a super polyphenol antioxidant called EGCG. Green tea and the EGCG antioxidant has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, some cancers, depression, stress, anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune diseases (29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35). Green tea has also been linked to improved brain function, alertness, and focus (32). Moreover, the L-theanine in green tea may help reduce anxiety without making you feel drowsy (33). In one study, researchers found that when people drank more than 4 cups of green tea a day, they were 51% less likely to experience depression compared to those who drank 1 cup or less per day (29). In another review of 21 studies, including randomized controlled trials, crossover studies, and cross-sectional studies, researchers found green tea decreased anxiety and improved memory and attention (30). Based on this research, green tea, when combined with an overall anti-inflammatory diet, may be significantly beneficial in reducing the risk or reducing symptoms in a multitude of conditions and diseases.

So, Should I Try Using Green Tea as a Diuretic?

If you are having trouble with swelling and puffiness, you may want to give green tea a try, either in tea or supplement form. Green tea not only works as a natural mild diuretic but also has a variety of other fantastic benefits. Green tea in combination with other diuretics and anti-inflammatories may provide even more benefits in regard to reducing swelling and puffiness. Moreover, green tea contains a powerful antioxidant, which may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases and promote general health. SwellNoMore contains green tea and other helpful anti-inflammatory and diuretic ingredients. You can find more information on the ingredients and benefits of SwellNoMore here.

Important Note

*Please schedule an appointment with your doctor if you are suffering from chronic edema. You should also talk with your doctor about any possible interactions your supplements might have with your specific medications or medical conditions.

About the Author

Lacy Ngo, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian with a Master of Science in Human Nutrition. She is also the author of several books, including The Nourishing Meal Builder, and The Nourishing Meal Builder: The Pescatarian Edition. Ngo has been featured and quoted in Media Outlets like Parade Magazine, The Healthy, Eat This, Not That!, VeryWell Fit, Byrdie, and Authority Magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions -

Is green tea hydrating or diuretic?

Green tea can hydrate, but its mild diuretic effect, due to caffeine, may increase urination slightly. While some wonder is green tea a diuretic? its overall impact on hydration is generally positive. 

Does green tea increase urination?

Yes, green tea can increase urination slightly due to its caffeine content. However, its diuretic effect is generally mild and doesn't significantly impact overall hydration for most people.

Which teas are not diuretic?

Herbal teas like chamomile, rooibos, and peppermint are caffeine-free and non-diuretic. These options won't increase urination, making them suitable for avoiding diuretic effects.

What is it in tea that makes you pee a lot?

Caffeine in tea stimulates kidney function, increasing urine production. This diuretic effect varies depending on the tea type and individual tolerance, but it's generally moderate in most teas.