Green
Tea Extract - Green Tea Leaf Extract Health Benefits
Green Tea Extract - What is it?
Green tea has long been used by
the Chinese as medicine to treat headaches, body ache,
poor digestion, and improve well-being and life expectancy.
Green tea extract is bioflavonoid rich, and one of
its main uses is fighting free radicals in your body.
Green tea extract contains high level of polyphenols
(a bioflavonoid), and it's also a rich source of EGCG
(an antioxidant), that's over 200 times more potent
than vitamin E in fighting free radicals and pro-oxidants.
The EGCG in green tea extract protects
against digestive and respiratory infections, blocks
the actions of carcinogens which promotes cancer,
is anti-bacterial, and also helps lower cholesterol
levels.
Green tea extract is also a common
ingredient in many fat burners - it helps with thermogenesis
and helps the metabolism of fat. It works without
increasing the heart rate which is most often associated
with most fat burners. With green tea, dieters get
the weight loss without the jitters and side effects.
Green tea extract itself is used as a weight loss
supplement among its many other beneficial uses. Green
tea extract also helps reduce the risk of heart disease,
cancer, and has been recently show to help prevent
liver failure.
Some Green Tea Leaf Extract Studies
Green Tea Study 1: In a study conducted by the University of North Carolina,
Zhi Zhong and colleagues studied the free radical
scavenging effects of green tea leaf extract on problems
associated with fatty livers. The study involved drunk
rats that went through "binge drinking"
and then put to sleep with their livers removed. Some
of these livers were bathed in a green tea extract
solution.
These livers were then transplanted
into rats with unhealthy livers. The study found that
only 13% of the rats that received livers untreated
with green tea survived, while 77% that had received
a liver treated with green tea extract had survived.
Green Tea Study 2: In a research studying the effects of green tea on
treating acne, researcher Gan Wong et al. (Memorial
Medical Center in the Philippines) compared the effects
of 3% green tea cream and 4% benzoyl peroxide on moderate
to severe acne.
108 subjects were randomized into
2 treatment groups: 1) benzoyl peroxide cream and
2) green tea extract cream, and the creams were applied
twice daily for 12 weeks for the 2 groups. The study
found the green tea cream to lighten patient's skin
color and improve overall skin complexion. The study
also suggests that green tea extract cream causes
fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide, and the
green tea group reported fewer cases of dry skin,
itching, and allergic responses.
Green Tea Extract Benefits
There are many health benefits of
green tea extract, below is a quick list highlighting
some of them:
Green tea leaf extract contains
EGCG, a powerful antioxidant 200 times more potent
than vitamin E
Its rich in bioflavonoid, and
protects against digestive and respiratory infections
It has thermogenic effects that
aids in weight loss without causing jitters or other
unwanted side effects
Green tea extract helps decrease
hormone activity and is an effective treatment for
acne
Green tea leaf is anti bacterial,
helps lower cholesterol, reduces inflammation, and
lowers blood pressure
It also help prevent some forms
of cancer including colon, pancreatic, and stomach
cancer
Green tea extract stimulates
the immune system, and also helps defend against
dental plaque
Green tea extract also protects
against liver damage
Some new research suggests green
tea may help prevent liver transplant failure in
patients
Green Tea Side Effects
Generally, green tea has little
or no side effects. However, it does contain caffeine,
and individuals with conditions that may be complicated
by caffeine intake should consult a medical expert
before using green tea extracts. Pregnant women should
also consult their doctors before using green tea.
Individuals take MAOI inhibitors (anti depressant)
should avoid taking green tea.
Green tea extracts in capsule form
are recommended for daily dosages of 100 to 150mg
3 times daily.
