Green Tea Supplements

Green tea supplements are concentrated forms of green tea’s beneficial substance. Green tea supplements can be in many forms such as tablets, capsules, liquids or powders. Take green tea supplements allow one to get high dose of the substance without actually drinking green tea.

Green tea extract, like many herbs, is standardized in the production phase to guarantee that a certain percentage of the active ingredients remain present in the final capsulized form. The active ingredients in green tea extract are polyphenols in the form of flavinoids like catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Polyphenols, flavinoids, catechins and EGCG are powerful antioxidants that appear to interfere with and reduce the spread of certain types of cancer cells. The antioxidant activity of EGCG in green tea extract is purportedly up to 100 times more powerful than that of vitamin C or E.

Green Tea Supplements Health Benefits

Green tea consumption started China nearly 4,000 years ago. Green tea has been used as traditional medicine in China and Japan to treat physical pains, promote digestion, regulate body temperature and prevent signs of aging.

Statistics also showed that among populations in China and Japan where high amounts of green tea are consumed daily, cancer rates are statistically lower. There is now growing scientific research from reputable sources that show promising results as to how the active ingredients in green tea extract might be responsible for lowering rates of various kinds of cancer.

In May 2006, researchers at Yale University School of Medicine weighed in on the issue with a review article that looked at more than 100 studies on the health benefits of green tea. They pointed to what they called an “Asian paradox,” which refers to lower rates of heart disease and cancer in Asia despite high rates of cigarette smoking. They theorized that the 1.2 liters of green tea that is consumed by many Asians each day provides high levels of polyphenols and other antioxidants. These compounds may work in several ways to improve cardiovascular health, including preventing blood platelets from sticking together (This anticoagulant effect is the reason doctors warn surgical patients to avoid green tea prior to procedures that rely on a patient’s clotting ability) and improving cholesterol levels, said the researchers, whose study appeared in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Specifically, green tea may prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” type), which, in turn, can reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries, the researchers wrote.

Green Tea Supplements and Weight Loss

Green tea consumption is reportedly associated with various health-promoting properties. For example, it has been shown to promote fat oxidation in humans at rest and to prevent obesity and improve insulin sensitivity in mice.

Green tea supplements have also become popular among dieters, as it is claimed to boost the metabolism and promote weight loss. Studies have shown that green tea supplements can help a person burn up to 70 - 80 extra calories each day. In addition, green tea supplements do not have the harmful side effects seen in many weight loss products.

In a study performed at Birmingham (UK) University, it was shown that average fat oxidation rates were 17% higher after ingestion of Green Tea Extract than after ingestion of a placebo. Similarly the contribution of fat oxidation to total energy expenditure was also significantly higher by a similar percentage following ingestion of Green Tea Extract. This proves that ingestion of Green Tea Extract can not only increase fat oxidation during moderately intensive exercise but also improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in healthy young men.

While green tea supplements may seem like a miracle product with so many claimed benefits, none of its health benefits have been accepted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, scientific studies continue to show promising results, and people living in areas with traditionally higher consumption of green tea, such as Japan, have been shown to have a longer life expectancy and less incidence of cancer than those from other cultures.

Tags: extract, green tea, supplements, weight loss