Green Tea Extract

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What Is Green Tea Extract?

Green tea has been a staple in many Asian cultures for many centuries, especially in China. In fact, it is said that green tea was discovered in China by accident, when some leaves from the Camellia sinensis accidentally landed in an emperor’s cup of hot water. Today, the benefits of green tea are so important that supplements are made from green tea extracts and used in the prevention of cancer, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, and even cavities. Drinking just one cup of green tea daily could become part of your cancer-prevention routine, as you choose healthy eating and smart supplementation.

How Does Green Tea Extract Work?

Part of the interest in green tea is that it is considered a natural antioxidant as it contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are a class of phytochemicals found in high concentrations in green tea, and have been associated with the prevention of heart disease and cancer. The slight astringent, bitter taste of green tea is attributed to these polyphenols. In green tea, catechins, which are a category of polyphenols, are present in significant quantities, more specifically: epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG makes up about 10-50% of the total catechin content and appears to be the most powerful of the catechins – with antioxidant activity about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins E and C. A cup of green tea provides upwards of 40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries. Antioxidants are thought to prevent free radicals from attaching to healthy cells and destroying them. Antioxidants help prevent damage to healthy cells and may have a positive affect on serious diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. While its full mechanism of action is not understood, green tea has been shown to reduce the incidence and number of tumors in animal studies, suggesting that humans may also benefit from the cancer-fighting potential of green tea. Another unique compound found in the leaves of green tea, theanine is an amino acid that produces tranquilizing effects in the brain. Theanine is quite different from the polyphenol and catechin antioxidants for which green tea is typically consumed. Through the natural production of polyphenols, the tea plant converts theanine into catechins. This means that tea leaves harvested during one part of the growing season may be high in catechins (good for antioxidant benefits), while leaves harvested during another time of year may be higher in theanine (good for anti-stress and cortisol-controlling effects).

How Can I Make The Most Out Of Green Tea Extract?

There is no RDA for green tea, since it is not an essential nutrient. But you can get the benefits of green tea by taking between 240-320mg of green tea extract in supplement form. Supplements should be standardized to 50% polyphenols, the antioxidants found in green tea. Drinking about 4 cups of green tea a day will also supply the same amount of polyphenols as supplements, although caffeine-sensitive people may not be able to drink that much tea, as green tea does contain a small amount of caffeine. 8 fluid ounces of green tea contains about 40mg of caffeine, much less than a cup of coffee, but still enough to bother some people.