Green tea extract benefits

Green tea has become very popular because of its possible health benefits. But what if you don’t like the taste of green tea? If that’s the case, you might be considering green tea extracts. Are green tea extract benefits the same as drinking a cup of tea?

If you really can’t get used to the taste, you’re in luck! Research has shown that green tea extract capsules are just as effective as drinking the tea in its traditional form. So you can get all the benefits without having to drink even one glass!

Researchers at Tufts University used three groups of people to study the effects of green tea and green tea extract. The first group drank green tea, the second group took an extract, and the third group took a placebo pill.

The researchers found the groups of people who consumed green tea, as a drink or as an extract, had increased activity in their dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of their brain.

And the group of people who took the extract had an even more significant amount of activity because the extract contained a higher dosage of EGCG than the tea.

High dose of EGCG

The most studied and most beneficial of the catechins in green tea is EGCG. EGCG is responsible for suppressing cancer, reducing coronary heart disease, increasing memory, and stimulating weight loss to name a few.

Dietary supplements contain a concentrated form of EGCG, so you don’t need to take as much. One pill can be equivalent to drinking 3 or 4 cups of green tea.

But not all green tea extracts are created equal, so you have to look at the label to find out how much EGCG is in one pill. Supplements can range from 100 – 750 mg of polyphenols per dose. Keep in mind that you should not exceed the recommended daily allowance of 750 mg.

Caffeine

In addition to EGCG, green tea extracts usually contain caffeine. Caffeine is naturally occurring in green tea and is needed to bring about the full list of green tea extract benefits. The subtle amount of caffeine in green tea aids the body in burning calories and is helpful in losing weight.