Green tea extract is exactly as it sounds, a concentrated and more potent blend of green tea leaves that doesn’t necessitate brewing like a standard cuppa, making it an ideal addition to supplements.
Green tea extract is extremely high in the antioxidants needed for fighting cell damage and oxidative stress. It has also been attributed to improved heart health, decreased inflammation, reduced blood pressure and cholesterol as well as enhancing thermogenesis to assist with weight loss [1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18691042/.
We asked Ryan Hassel, Intern Dietitian with The Fight Dietitians, to shed some light on why Green Tea is such a powerful and popular addition to the diet of high performers around the world -
Green tea is made from the leaves and buds of the Camellia Sinensis,
or Tea Plant. They are the same leaves used to produce oolong and black teas, but without having gone through the process of withering and oxidation.
Green tea originated in China and has since become a worldwide phenomenon, consumed not only for its pleasant taste, but the possible health benefits that come along with it.
Vast amounts of research have been conducted looking into the effects of green tea consumption on health. One particular study gave an umbrella review of over 96 meta-analysis studies looking at individual health effects associated with green tea and black tea consumption (Yi et al., 2019).
Consumption of green tea was associated with a reduced risk of death from all-cause mortality (all kinds of illness and disease) by around 4%. This may not seem like a big number but keep in mind this is at a population level, so the individual effects can vary greatly from person to person.
The association was also noted to be dose-dependent meaning the health benefits could depend on the amount of tea you drink each day.
So how do you maximize the potential benefits of green tea?
Research has shown the positive effects of green tea consumption are maximized around 2 to 3 cups per day. Consumption over this amount either reduces the effect or in some cases, may even cause the opposite.
Ryan Hassel - You can follow The Fight Dietitians on Instagram @the_fightdietitian
