Tea has been and remains one of the world’s most popular drinks next to plain water. Tea earned its reputation centuries ago when some of the first civilizations on Earth discovered how to brew tea plants for personal enjoyment, celebrations, and even medicinal purposes.
Oolong, black, white, and herbal are popular teas you can enjoy in a cup of hot water. But for this article, the focus will be on the green tea – specifically, green tea extract.
Not everyone enjoys drinking tea, but that’s not a problem today thanks to modern extraction methods used by a few popular supplement brands. Below you will see what comes inside a green tea extract supplement, the potential health benefits, and the brands you should consider buying from.
Potential Health Benefits of Green Tea
According to research on the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, the primary potential benefits of green tree extract is thought to come from two compounds, polyphenols, and catechin.Polyphenol is a general term for a type of more than 8,000 phytochemicals that are present in plants. They are also a type of antioxidant. Catechins are also a plant chemical and antioxidant that occurs in specific plants, such as tea, cocoa, and berries.
When ingested, research suggests that these two compounds may provide a range of potentially beneficial effects in the body.
Heart Health
Green tea extract is thought to provide support for the heart by helping to protect healthy cells against oxidative stress, free radicals, and environmental toxins. During health aging, these effects may help to support the healthy function of the smooth tissue found in the heart, arteries, and vessels. Some studies also suggest that green tea extract may help to maintain blood pressure levels by regulating the expansive and contraction of cell walls.
Skin Health
The polyphenols in green tea are suggested to support a healthy immune system, but not just in response to foreign microbes. Instead, compounds in green tea may help in two ways. The first is by helping to regulate a healthy inflammation response in the skin. The second is to help maintain the healthy production of secretions from the sebaceous glands, which release oils from pores. Several research articles suggest that both internal and external use of green tea extract (in supplements or beauty products) may be useful for people with pimples and acne. Prior to using green tea for skin issues, consult with a dermatologist to learn more about your specific skin condition.
Weight Management
Green tea has been said to be a supportive aid for energy production and the oxidation of fat cells. This may result from the caffeine and natural plant compounds contributing to a rise in metabolic function, but research is inconclusive. In other studies, it was suggested that green tea extract helped to provide a belief that people could lose weight, which led to an increase in physical activity and contributed to any weight loss.
Green Tea Extract Supplements
Interested in trying a green tea supplement? Check out one of these quality brands and products.Premier Research Labs offers Green Tea-ND, a fermented form of green tea that seeks to make the compounds in the leaves more bioavailable for optimal absorption and potential medicinal benefits. Premier Research Labs is also a professional brand, meaning that the company exceeds NHC’s standard for quality and purity.
Pure Encapsulations offers Green Tea Extract (Decaffeinated), a form of green tea from decaffeinated tea leaves. Pure Encapsulations is also a professional brand that specializes in hypoallergenic formulas for those with sensitivities to specific food ingredients and chemicals.
Jarrow Formulas’s Green Tea 500 Mg supplement is ideal for people on a budget that still want quality and the potential health benefits of green tea. Jarrow Formulas balances this supplement with 50% polyphenols and 30% catechins, plus other supportive ingredients.
A word of warning about supplements: Too much of any one thing can be harmful. There are reports of rare cases of liver damage in people using green tea supplements. In animal studies, excess green tea consumption was shown to cause acute liver injury similar to Tylenol toxicity. It is unknown if this is due to an allergic reaction, the quality of the supplement, or existing health conditions. Before taking a supplement, consult with a doctor about dosage recommendations. Also, stop all use of supplements if you experience any negative side effects.
If you’re interested in starting a green tea supplement, you have a lot of options from a number of excellent brands. Check them out and see if they provide the support you’ve been looking for in your daily life.
