Green Tea and Egcg

Green Tea has been a part of Chinese medicine for more than 4,000 years. But today, new scientific research in both Asia and in the Western world is providing promising evidence that the properties of Green Tea may have the potential to nutritionally support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Laboratory studies are providing links that theorize that Green Tea may assist the body’s immune system in combating cardiovascular disease, arthritis, aging, cognitive impairment, infections, tooth disease, stress...as well as numerous other health issues.

There is even evidence emerging that drinking green tea has effects on body weight. A well-researched article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.

The reason for the abundant nutritional benefits being attributed to green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant and may be nutritionally beneficial in the war on weight. Although most tests have been performed on laboratory animals, at least one with humans showed that taking in the equivalent of 3 cups of green tea per day burned an additional 80 calories per day. Although 80 calories may not appear to be significant, over the course of a year that adds up 29,200 calories. That means you could lose more than 8 pounds without making any other changes.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition documents a study that concluded Green Tea drinkers burn as much as 4% more energy than people who did not consume green tea. Green Tea appears to transform the body into an energy burning machine. How does green tea do this? Researchers have come up with several possible reasons which may explain this phenomenon:

1) Green Tea nutritionally revs up the fat-burning effects of brown fat, a special kind of fat that creates heat by burning calories at a very high rate.

2) Green Tea nutritionally supports the body in sending glucose to muscles, where it's used for energy, rather than to fat tissue, where it's stored.

3) Green Tea inhibits the action of fat-digesting enzymes, making the fat from food less available to the body.

4) Green Tea assists the body in lowering the production of fatty acids, blood fat and cholesterol.

What sets green tea apart from other teas is the way it is processed.  Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in supporting health benefits and weight-loss.

Safe Thermogenic Weight Loss

So, although clinical trials conducted by the University of Geneva and the University of Birmingham leads us to believe that green tea has a thermogenic effect and raises the body’s metabolic rate, the rate at which calories are burned, more research is needed before researchers can say with absolute certainty that green tea helps you lose weight. However, the findings certainly look very promising and the results of their study pose substantial implications for use in weight control.

While Green Tea is known to be safe, an exercise regime and safely cutting down on your calorie intake especially, sugars and starch, is the best known weight loss strategy. In addition, it is always advisable to seek your doctor’s counsel before introducing any nutritional supplement or beginning any exercise weight-loss program.

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