Green Tea Extract
(Camellia sinensis)

Green tea and black tea are both from the same plant, just dried and processed differently. Both are high in powerful health protectors like EGCG. EGCG is 25 to 100 times more powerful than Vitamin C or E. Just 1 cup of green tea has more antioxidant power than a serving of broccoli or strawberries!

Potential Benefits of Tea:

• Decrease: heart disease and stroke

• Cancer prevention: block and detoxify carcinogens, slow tumor growth, kill cancer cells, prevent sun damage to skin

• Decrease: allergic skin reactions: eczema and dermatitis

• Lower: liver enzymes

• Stronger: bones and teeth

• Improve: blood sugar and insulin sensitivity

• Weight loss?: Some research has found it may also help people lose weight and keep it off! Green tea extract boosts metabolism by up to 4%. In one study, green tea extract decreased weight by 4.6% in 3 months. Example: a 220 pound person losing 10 pounds.

Usual Amount:

270 mg EGCG a day or up to 500 mg green tea extract standardized to at least 60% polyphenols (or just drink 4-5 cups green tea/day)

Good Brand: Schiff Green Tea Diet (3 pills/day) $13-$15/month

Cautions?

Green tea extract is very safe. It does not increase heart rate if taken in the recommended amounts. Medication interaction: don't take supplements if you are on a powerful 'blood thinner' like warfarin (Coumadin), however green tea as a beverage is fine.

-Sara Lee Thomas, RD, June 2003, rev.2013

Minor editorial revisions by J. Thomas, 2016