Green Tea Extract – A Beginner's Guide

Julian Tai
If you´ve been trying to lose weight and need a bit of a jump start, here´s good news for you. Green tea extract has been shown to aid in weight loss!

Throughout history, green tea has been used to great effect in China. There is an old proverb that states that if you drink green tea daily, you will remain thin. Common wisdom says that a cup or two of this refreshing beverage works wonders for dieters.

Compounds in tea called catechins actually increase the body´s ability to burn fat.

Would you like the benefit of increased metabolism without having to drink tea every day? Luckily many companies make Green Tea Extract. Now you can take your green tea in capsules, and be sure of the amount of catechins you are ingesting each day.

Here are the results of several studies conducted on the efficacy of catechins on fat burning, metabolism and weight loss.

In 1999, Dulloo and his colleagues in Geneva and Nice gave green tea extract to 10 healthy men three times daily. The dosage contained 90 mg epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC). Control groups were given placebo or caffeine. The results showed that the green tea extract led to significant increases in 24 hour urinary norepinephrine excretion, and decreases in respiratory quotient. The researchers concluded that ingestion of green tea extract at this level promotes fat burning.

The polyphenols in green tea, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are thought to be some of the most powerful compounds available in food.

A 2005 study at the Kao Corporation in Tokyo also studied the catechins found in green tea and their possible effect on burning fat. Over the course of the 12 week study, healthy men ingested one bottle per day of oolong tea containing 690 mg of catechins. When compared with the control group, these men had a reduction in the amount of body fat.


How much green tea extract should you take if you are trying to lose weight? These studies indicate that between 150 and 700 mg per day can be helpful. Most supplements have between 200 and 500 mg. Further study should increase our understanding of just what dose is the most appropriate for weight loss aid.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham conducted a study in 2008 to determine the effects of green tea extract on glucose tolerance and fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise in humans. In this case, participants ingested capsules containing green tea extract with 890 mg polyphenols and 366 mg EGCG within 24 hours of performing a 30 minute bicycle exercise. Average fat oxidation rates were 17% higher after ingesting the green tea extract than after ingesting the placebo. Additionally, insulin sensitivity in these subjects was increased by 13%.

As these studies show, you can drink your tea or take a supplement made from the leaves. Try to get at least 200 mg per day to get the most benefit from the EGCG contained in green tea. Stay tuned to learn about new studies and research on the amazing power of green tea to keep you healthy and to help you lose weight!

And finally, don't fancy drinking green tea and want to know how to select a high quality green tea extract supplement?

Understand the difference between EGCG, catechins and polyphenols. Which is the best way to maximize green tea health benefits?

An insider's guide to green tea and gourmet tea information. This is the definitive site to visit with tonnes of great information on discovering your next great tea.
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Julian Tai

Julian writes regularly for Amazing-Green-Tea.

If you have heard about the fantastic benefits of high quality tea, but is struggling to find teas that meet your high expectations, you may find the following articles useful:

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