Camellia sinensis is a wonderful plant from which a powerful drink, green tea, is extracted. Its beneficial effects on our organism are well known. An interesting fact about this plant is that the leaves of Camellia sinensis have organic compounds that protect the plants from harmful pathogens. These compounds are called polyphenolic compounds and contain substances such as epigallocatechin, caffeine, tannin, catechin and epicatechin. These compounds, of which EGCG is the most important, serve as the plant's natural shield and the green tea plant actually uses this to survive.
The beneficial effects of EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) have been widely demonstrated by various scientific researches. Based on a number of studies, polyphenols, including the aforementioned EGCG, give great hope for the prevention of some chronic ailments.
Are green tea capsules better than a cup of green tea?
When you drink green teayou get a certain amount of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (between 50 and 100 mg) per cup. So, to meet your need for this miracle substance, you need to drink quite a bit every day. But if you opt for an extract, green tea capsules should have a certain concentration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). And to be able to unfold its full effect in the body, a combination of EGCG with other ingredients is also important.
That is the reason:
- While the EGCG in a cup of green tea varies (it can even decrease if the water temperature is too high), in food supplements the green tea extracts are present in a constant concentration. So with a cup of green tea you cannot be sure that you really get enough EGCG.
- Another reason for taking green tea extract capsules instead of a drink could be be the taste. Most people do not like the bitter flavour, so they often add a lot of sweeteners and spoil the effect of the tea. Green tea extract capsules are easy to consume and have no taste, making the effect more effective.
- Finally, the third and most important reason is that green tea capsules have an ideal formula, namely a combination of vitamins and other ingredients such as pepper, which enrich the effect of EGCG.
However, not all green tea extract supplements are of the same quality and it is very important to look carefully at which green tea supplements you reach for.
What are the 5 most important points for choosing the best green tea extract capsule?
1. pay attention to the EGCG content in green tea capsules:
Various clinical studies indicate that the active ingredients in green tea leaves are powerful antioxidants that eliminate free radicals and can promote a fast metabolism. Daily intake of EGCG may also help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. This antioxidant could also increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol.
However, a high EGCG concentration alone does not mean that the product is better. Furthermore, this too high EGCG concentration can damage the liverTherefore, a maximum daily dose of up to 800 mg is recommended and in some cases experts would recommend less (between 250 mg and 500 mg). Many studies have shown that the combination of EGCG with other ingredients is also important, which makes a big difference in its absorption. However, this will be discussed in more detail in the text.
2. find out about research results that prove the good quality of green tea capsules:
The best products have studies and tests behind them that show whether the product is really high quality. So don't believe what the advertising just promises you. Check the quality yourself.
Green tea supplements are made in different ways and have different combinations of ingredients. What makes one product better than another is that particular formulation.
The famous Prof. Dr Werner Hunstein researched himself to cure himself of a rare disease he was suffering from. He discovered that the Combination of pepper and vitamin C with green tea extract significantly increases its absorption. He also found a way for a food supplement to go directly into the intestine and then directly into the bloodstream. This discovery made his recipe very special. With other formulations, the product could be absorbed through the liver, which could harm it if high amounts of EGCG were involved. The recipe by Prof. Dr. Werner Hunstein unlike the others, contains not just one type, but two types of EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate).
3. the process of making green tea capsules is important
Study the label well before buying, and when choosing a brand, look for the combination of the most beneficial components of green tea. Only the young leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant should be used for capsules. The extraction process should also be carried out gently and exclusively with water that meets the permitted EU standard for certain countries, including Germany. This process should be free of chemical residues and should not use any unapproved solvents or chloroform, for example.
4. the origin and cultivation method of the plant from which the green tea extract is obtained is important:
In order to gain quantity, some dietary supplement suppliers use Camellia sinensis of poorer quality. In order to harvest as much as possible, pesticides are often used in cultivation. Please note: The best green tea extract is obtained from a completely organically grown plant.
Green tea capsules from low-quality cultivation, using pesticides and genetic engineeringcannot make sense in the long run. Moreover, if the green tea harvest was purchased from an anonymous middleman, there is no 100% guarantee for the origin, cultivation method or the natural quality of the extracts that go into the food supplement.
Therefore, study carefully the origin of the plants, which is indicated on the packaging. For example, the best ones are grown in the areas near the Yellow Mountains, which are one of the most famous and beautiful mountain regions in China. Due to very good climatic and ecological conditions, green tea plants from this mountain region are said to have higher quality polyphenols than those from other growing areas.
The price of a capsule with green tea extract always depends on the quality:
We have left this article at the very end so that it will not be forgotten. So far, this theory has proven itself countless times, not only in the search for the best EGCG capsule, but also in everyday life. Pay attention to the price! It takes a lot of effort, work and time to get the best and most useful out of the magical Camellia sinensis for the customer. Cheap products are usually also cheap and inferior produced. Your well-being should only be worth the best to you, which supports you from the inside with the legendary "gold of Asia".
Sources:
Beneficial effects of green tea: A literature review - PMC (nih.gov)