Tweet
Green tea has been consumed for about 5,000 years in Asia and has expanded to the rest of the world over the last few hundred years. Its long-standing history is impressive by itself. Researchers continue to delve into understanding green tea and green tea extract (Camellia sinensis). The most active and abundant polyphenol of green tea extract is EGCG or epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Results continue to show promising beneficial effects on weight management and obesity-related hormones as well as several other areas of health such as blood sugar management, oxidative stress, fatty liver problems, urinary tract health and kidneys.
Weight Loss and Green Tea Extract
A recent randomized, double-blind trial with 115 Chinese women with excessive abdominal obesity was performed in Taipai, Taiwan. The study was to determine the effect and safety of high dose green tea extract on weight management, cholesterol, and hormone measurements in women with significant belly fat. Participants were required to have a minimum Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher and minimum waist measurements of 32 inches or higher. Keep in mind, this was a study done on the Asian population which tends to have much smaller frame and body size than Western cultures. The women who received the green tea extract were given 500 mg capsules of green tea extract with standardized EGCG three times per day. At the end of twelve weeks, there was significant weight loss, a decrease in BMI, and reduction in the waist circumference. Other benefits included a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL levels. The obesity-related hormones were also positively affected, with lower grehlin levels and increased adiponectin levels. There were no side effects or toxicity reactions that occurred in this study.
Safety and Tolerance
In another study released just days ago, researchers evaluated the use of a number of thermogenic or fat burning nutrients to test their safety and efficacy. They focused on caffeine, green tea extract, and cayenne powder. During the 28-day trial in adults, they found no adverse effects of the ingredients and deemed them safe for short-term adult consumption.
The Minnesota Green Tea Trial tested the safety and efficacy of green tea extract in post-menopausal women at high risk for breast cancer. There were 937 women who received daily supplementation of 843 mg of EGCG for one year. The supplement was considered generally well tolerated.
Blood Pressure and Green Tea Extract
In a rather unique study, researchers used rye bread enriched with green tea extract to see what would happen. The control group participants received rye bread without green tea extract. In this study, the participants who consumed the green tea enriched rye bread over the course of 12 weeks experienced lower blood pressure and better blood pressure management. Weight loss did not occur in either the control group or the participants. The amount of green tea extract consumed for men was 242 mg per day. Women consumed 188 mg per day.
Given the complexity of carbohydrate metabolism, a possible interpretation of the failure to lose weight would be on the dosage of green tea extract used as well as the use of rye bread. Compared to the first weight loss study listed above, this study used about two-thirds less green tea extract. This too changes the entire fat-burning ability. The rye bread brings questions into interpretation with rye bread being a moderate glycemic index food and a food containing wheat and gluten that can alter gut microbiome balance critical for healthy weight management. Yet, even at this low dose of green tea extract per day, very positive benefits occurred.
Blood Pressure
A recent, randomized control study in humans shows green tea extract helps protect against elevated diastolic blood pressure. A meta-analysis study that reviewed ten trials of 834 participants showed statistically significant improvements in both systolic and diastolic readings with drinking green tea. Individuals in the studies were either prehypertensive or had hypertension problems. In the Journal of Hypertension February 2015, the authors reviewed fourteen randomized control studies with 971 overweight and obese individuals. The consensus of the meta-analysis was that the green tea or green tea extract supplementation provided a statistically significant reduction in blood pressure in adults struggling with weight management.
Blood Sugar, Diabetes and EGCG
Green tea extract and EGCG have some of the highest effects on stabilizing and controlling blood sugar. Green tea and its EGCG-enriched extract improved glucose homeostasis and increased the expression of PPAR
More...
Weight Loss and Green Tea Extract
A recent randomized, double-blind trial with 115 Chinese women with excessive abdominal obesity was performed in Taipai, Taiwan. The study was to determine the effect and safety of high dose green tea extract on weight management, cholesterol, and hormone measurements in women with significant belly fat. Participants were required to have a minimum Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher and minimum waist measurements of 32 inches or higher. Keep in mind, this was a study done on the Asian population which tends to have much smaller frame and body size than Western cultures. The women who received the green tea extract were given 500 mg capsules of green tea extract with standardized EGCG three times per day. At the end of twelve weeks, there was significant weight loss, a decrease in BMI, and reduction in the waist circumference. Other benefits included a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL levels. The obesity-related hormones were also positively affected, with lower grehlin levels and increased adiponectin levels. There were no side effects or toxicity reactions that occurred in this study.
Safety and Tolerance
In another study released just days ago, researchers evaluated the use of a number of thermogenic or fat burning nutrients to test their safety and efficacy. They focused on caffeine, green tea extract, and cayenne powder. During the 28-day trial in adults, they found no adverse effects of the ingredients and deemed them safe for short-term adult consumption.
The Minnesota Green Tea Trial tested the safety and efficacy of green tea extract in post-menopausal women at high risk for breast cancer. There were 937 women who received daily supplementation of 843 mg of EGCG for one year. The supplement was considered generally well tolerated.
Blood Pressure and Green Tea Extract
In a rather unique study, researchers used rye bread enriched with green tea extract to see what would happen. The control group participants received rye bread without green tea extract. In this study, the participants who consumed the green tea enriched rye bread over the course of 12 weeks experienced lower blood pressure and better blood pressure management. Weight loss did not occur in either the control group or the participants. The amount of green tea extract consumed for men was 242 mg per day. Women consumed 188 mg per day.
Given the complexity of carbohydrate metabolism, a possible interpretation of the failure to lose weight would be on the dosage of green tea extract used as well as the use of rye bread. Compared to the first weight loss study listed above, this study used about two-thirds less green tea extract. This too changes the entire fat-burning ability. The rye bread brings questions into interpretation with rye bread being a moderate glycemic index food and a food containing wheat and gluten that can alter gut microbiome balance critical for healthy weight management. Yet, even at this low dose of green tea extract per day, very positive benefits occurred.
Blood Pressure
A recent, randomized control study in humans shows green tea extract helps protect against elevated diastolic blood pressure. A meta-analysis study that reviewed ten trials of 834 participants showed statistically significant improvements in both systolic and diastolic readings with drinking green tea. Individuals in the studies were either prehypertensive or had hypertension problems. In the Journal of Hypertension February 2015, the authors reviewed fourteen randomized control studies with 971 overweight and obese individuals. The consensus of the meta-analysis was that the green tea or green tea extract supplementation provided a statistically significant reduction in blood pressure in adults struggling with weight management.
Blood Sugar, Diabetes and EGCG
Green tea extract and EGCG have some of the highest effects on stabilizing and controlling blood sugar. Green tea and its EGCG-enriched extract improved glucose homeostasis and increased the expression of PPAR
More...