Most people are familiar with the powerful health benefits of green tea for humans; however, many are surprised to learn that green tea supplements can significantly benefit their dogs’ health, as well.

Here are 22 green tea benefits for dogs:

1. Green Tea and Cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer. The antioxidants in green tea are 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E. Antioxidants promote cell health and prevent the degeneration of cells by free radicals — a process believed to be linked to cancer.

2. Green Tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering your dog’s cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a key contributor to heart disease. Green tea’s natural anti-bacterial properties also help reduce the likelihood of dental problems that can lead to heart disease in dogs.

3. Green Tea and Aging

Green tea contains a high concentration of polyphenols, antioxidants that combat free radicals. By promoting cell health, the polyphenols in green tea help your dog manage the stressors of aging.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea has a thermogenic effect, which helps burn fat while naturally boosting your dog’s metabolism. With canine obesity on the rise, adding a green tea supplement to your dog’s weight management regime is an effective way to promote your dog’s optimal weight.

5. Green Tea and Skin

Not only are free radicals implicated in cancer and aging, they also promote the degradation of skin cells, and can even lead to skin cancer. The antioxidants in green tea protect your dog’s skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, promoting overall skin health and helping to prevent skin cancer.

6. Green Tea and Arthritis

Green tea supports your dog’s joints by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, which makes it an important ingredient in joint supplements.

7. Green Tea and Bones

Green tea contains fluoride, which helps keeps bones strong. Daily supplementation with green tea will help preserve your dog’s bone density as he ages.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol

Green tea can help lower your dog’s cholesterol levels. It also helps reduce bad cholesterol levels, thereby improving your dog’s ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.

9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents canine obesity by halting the movement of glucose in fat cells. If your dog is consuming a healthy diet, exercising regularly and taking a daily green tea supplement, it is unlikely that he will struggle with canine obesity.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolism, and prevents sharp increases in blood sugar levels, making it a great supplement for dogs dealing with diabetes.

11. Green Tea and Memory Loss (Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome)

Green tea helps prevent memory loss. Furthermore, although there is no cure for cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), green tea helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain — a key precursor to CDS.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson’s-Like Symptoms

The antioxidants in green tea help prevent cell damage in the brain, which could lead to Parkinson’s-like symptoms. Daily green tea supplementation also reduces the likelihood that dogs that have Parkinson’s will progress with the disease.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease

Research has shown that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.

14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure. Green tea supplementation helps keep your dog’s blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.

15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning

The catechins in green tea give it a natural anti-bacterial effect. This is a big help for less discerning doggies, as it helps kill bacteria that causes food poisoning, and kills the toxins those bacteria produce. Daily supplementation with green tea in a multivitamin with amino acids and digestive enzymes can help regulate your dog’s digestive system and make him less susceptible to episodes of gastrointestinal distress.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but the polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your dog’s blood sugar levels, making sure his system is effectively balanced.

17. Green Tea and Immunity

The polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your dog’s immune system, better equipping him to fight against illnesses and infections.

18. Green Tea and Canine Influenza

Green tea is an effective preventive against canine influenza. In addition to helping to make your dog less susceptible to airborne germs by boosting your dog’s immune system, green tea’s natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects promote overall health for your dog during flu season.

19. Green Tea and Asthma

The theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles that support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma. Supplements that combine green tea with reishi mushroom, which also helps to relax the bronchial tubes and promote respiratory health, can help relieve your dog’s asthma and related respiratory distress.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infections

Green tea’s anti-bacterial properties can benefit dogs with ear infection issues. When combined with the anti-fungal and anti-yeast properties of reishi mushroom, green tea contributes to an effective support system against ear infections.

21. Green Tea and Dental Health

Green tea destroys the bacteria and viruses that lead to bad breath and the build-up of plaque and tartar, and cause many dental diseases. Its natural anti-inflammatory properties also help alleviate discomfort associated with gingivitis and periodontal disease.

22. Green Tea and Allergies

The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea relieves allergies. Daily supplementation with a product containing reishi, which has natural histamine blockers, and green tea can effectively relieve your dog’s allergy symptoms.