Green Tea

Green Tea Extract For Weight Loss

Green tea is made from the dried leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant and is loaded with naturally-occurring antioxidants and potent polyphenols including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate, and epicatechins, as well as three distinct flavonoids: kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. These compounds have been shown to have powerful biological effects on the body, notably, they possess radical-scavenging abilities that help protect our cells and tissues. Just as interestingly, the EGCG in green tea has been shown to promote fat loss/weight loss in a number of key ways; such as by suppressing appetite, increasing energy expenditure, stimulating thermogenesis, boosting metabolic rate, and helping improve overall body composition, which is why many people turn to green tea extract for weight loss support.

Interestingly, green tea contains caffeine, a stimulant, though much less than a cup of coffee (24–40 mg versus roughly 100 mg), thus does naturally stimulate energy, performance, and fat burning. Its effects on weight loss; however, can be attributed in large part to the EGCG and polyphenol content, which is why it’s important to select a formula that has been standardized to the highest percentage, ideally providing 98% EGCG and polyphenols, for best results.

Benefits of Green Tea Extract

• Helps Maintain Healthy Cholesterol, LDL & Triglyceride Levels
• Promotes Fat Burning as a Source of Energy
• Reduces Appetite
• Stimulates Metabolic Rate

Who Should Take Green Tea For Weight Loss?

Sipping green tea is an easy way to bolster your overall antioxidant protection. If you’re looking to stimulate your metabolism and enhance your weight loss efforts, a supplement is probably best. Green tea extract supplements are widely available and an ideal way to reduce your appetite, increase overall calorie expenditure, and boost fat burning, especially visceral fat, or belly fat. This last point is especially important because visceral fat is associated with inflammation and insulin resistance, and the development of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Green Tea Extract Supplements

Green tea is available either in tea form, loose leaf or tea bags, as well as in supplement form, typically capsules or tablets in either caffeinated or decaffeinated blends. Green tea extract is also frequently combined with other plants in combo weight loss formulas. There is no standard dose for green tea extract but typically the recommended daily dosing is somewhere in the 250 to 500 mg range. If you prefer sipping your green tea, you can safely enjoy between 3 to 10 cups daily to reap the weight loss benefits.

Final Thoughts

Though green tea is generally considered safe and well-tolerated, there have been reports of rare liver injury following the consumption of green tea-containing products. As such, If you have a diagnosed liver disorder, consult a health care practitioner prior to use. Discontinue use if symptoms of liver trouble such as yellowing of the skin/eyes (jaundice), stomach pain, dark urine, sweating, nausea, unusual fatigue, and/or loss of appetite and consult your health care practitioner.