Green Tea Extracts - The Summarizing Article
What makes green tea extract such an important nutrient are the large volumes of published scientific findings that validate its multiple biological benefits. The most significant findings involve studies showing that green tea extract helps maintain cellular DNA and membrane structural integrity. Decades of research shows that green tea inhibits the development of undesirable cell colonies.
The active constituents in green tea are powerful antioxidants called polyphenols (catechins) and flavonols. Several catechins are present in green tea and account for the bulk of favorable research reports. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most powerful of these catechins.
EGCG functions as an antioxidant that is about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E. One cup of green tea may provide 10-40 mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant effects that are greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots, or strawberries. Theoretically, the high antioxidant activity of green tea makes it beneficial for protecting the body from oxidative damage due to free radicals. Research shows that green tea may help maintain the health of the arterial wall by reducing lipids.
Green tea can protect against experimentally induced DNA damage; and slow or halt the initiation and progression of undesirable cell colonies. There is also evidence from some studies that green tea provides immunoprotective qualities, particularly in the case of patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. White blood cell count appears to be maintained more effectively in patients consuming green tea compared to non-supplemented patients.
There may also be a weight control action from green tea. In one study, mice receiving green tea in their diets had a significant suppression of food intake, body weight gain, and fat tissue accumulation.* Also, levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were lower in mice receiving the green tea diet. This study also showed that leptin levels decreased with green tea treatments, indicating that green tea may have a direct effect on reducing body weight.
Beware of Low Potency Green Tea Extracts
Unlike common supplements, green tea products come in many different potencies. Some green tea supplements contain relatively low potencies of the active polyphenols, while others go as far as to dilute their products with green tea leaf powder that is not at all standardized.
Companies offering these low potency green tea supplements state on the label what is really in the product, but most consumers don’t know what to look for. The result is unscrupulous commercial companies can pretend to offer higher potency green tea extracts when there is actually relatively little of the active polyphenols (and the critical EGCG) present in the product.
Source: greentealovers.com