Green Tea

Green tea and green tea extracts are rich in catechin polyphenols, in particular, epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. EGCG is a powerful antioxidant which may support a weight loss program by:

• increasing metabolism (energy expenditure)
• increasing fat oxidation
• regulating blood glucose after a meal
• suppressing appetite

Green tea can increase metabolism without increasing the heart rate or blood pressure. For this reason, green tea has an advantage over other stimulant drugs and herbal weight loss supplements containing ephedra, ma huang or ephedrine. These stimulant compounds are notorious for increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and is not suitable for many individuals with medical conditions like thyroid disease or high blood pressure.

The most notable side effect of green tea is insomnia due to the caffeine content of green tea. A cup of green tea has about 1/3 the amount of caffeine compared to a cup of coffee.

Green tea regulates glucose after a meal (slows the rise in blood sugar) by slowing the action of the digestive enzyme, amylase. Amylase breaks down starches into sugars, which causes blood sugar levels to rise following a meal. Slowing down amylase means slowing down the breakdown of starches into sugar, and therefore the rise in blood sugar levels is slower.

Drinking green tea or taking green tea extract in the form of supplements has many other health benefits. It is thought to:

• lower cholesterol
• prevent cancer
• decrease the risk of a stroke
• fight tooth cavities
• act as an anti-inflammatory agent in arthritis
• treat liver disease

The difference between green tea and oolong and black tea is how they are processed. All three teas come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea leaves are steamed whereas oolong and black tea are made from fermented leaves. Steaming the leaves prevents the EGCG from being oxidized whereas fermentation of the tea leaves converts the EGCG into other compounds that are not as effective to prevent disease and promote weight loss. For this reason, green tea has greater health benefits than oolong or black tea.


The information provided has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is intended solely for general information and is NOT to replace advice from your physician or other medical professionals and should NOT be relied upon for any diagnosis, treatment or care. Always check with your doctor before starting any new drug or alternative/natural/herbal treatments and supplements.