green tea

Liver damage from green tea & EGCG? Not with tigovit!

12 December 2022 by dorothea.pfeffer@gmx.de

Important update: Green tea as a food supplement is once again being targeted by European safety authorities, which naturally leads to uncertainty on the part of consumers. Green tea is said to be a burden on the liver, which is why it is better to keep your hands off the superfood that used to be so hyped. What is the truth behind these accusations? Can the intake of tigovit green tea capsules Leber damage? The answer: If taken according to the instructions on the pack, there is no risk. Learn more details in this article.

The innovations in brief: The daily intake of EGCG under 800 mg must not be exceeded according to the EFSA. EGCG from green tea extract should not be taken in case of liver or kidney diseases and is unsuitable for pregnant women, nursing mothers and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Important: EGCG content is not the same as green tea extract content. The tigovit green tea complex contains 300 mg of green tea extract per capsule, of which only 170 mg is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate, the main representative of green tea catechins). With a recommended dosage of two to three capsules daily, you consume 600-900 mg of green tea extract, thereof 340-510 mg EGCG per day. The daily intake of tigovit can be increased to a maximum of 3 capsules per day, for example for a short-term cure.

For a long time, green tea has been considered a Wellness drinkwhich is loved by many magazines and stars. However, any drink can have the opposite effect if overdosed or if the quality of the ingredients is poor. Namely, it can develop side effects and cause harm.

EFSA gives recommendation for green tea consumption

Therefore, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on whether overdosing on green tea supplements can prove harmful to the liver. The research findings came during World Liver Day 2018. As you might expect, the news has green tea fans in a tizzy. But don't worry: you don't have to give up green tea altogether.

The good news first. You don't have to have your beloved green tea bad-mouthed. According to EFSA, it all depends on the dosage. While green teas contain 90 to 300 mg Catechins contain up to 1000 mg, dietary supplements contain up to 1000 mg. Researchers linked the intake of over 800 mg of catechins to liver damage. So don't worry when taking tigovit green tea complex - each capsule contains 170 mg EGCG, so with the maximum recommendation of 3 capsules daily, you are well below the limit of 800 mg EGCG, which is potentially harmful to the liver, with 510 mg.

But what exactly are catechins?

Catechins are connections that lead to the Polyphenolsa subgroup of the secondary plant compounds.
They are found in most types of fruit.
Many plants synthesise catechins, including grapes, blueberries, legumes, parsley and many more.
The highest content of catechins is found in green tea!

Accordingly, catechins are substances that are naturally present in green tea. The most common is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). In its safety assessment, EFSA investigated possible associations between the intake of EGCG from green tea infusions or food supplements and liver damage.

Facts about the liver & liver damage!

But before we look in detail at the news surrounding liver damage from green tea, here's a look at the organ it's all about: the human liver!

The Liver is the largest organ in the body. It is located below the diaphragm in the right upper quadrant of the abdominal cavity. The liver of an adult weighs about 3 pounds and extends approximately from the right 5th rib to the lower edge of the rib cage.

What is the purpose of the liver?

The main functions of the liver lie in the Metabolic processes of the body. These include:

Degradation or conversion of substances
Gain energy
Make toxins less harmful to the body
Remove toxins from the bloodstream

The liver does this by receiving blood with nutrients from the digestive organs through a vein called the portal vein.

The many cells of the liver, called hepatocytes, absorb and filter this blood. They act as small sorting centres that determine:

Which nutrients to process
What is to be saved
Excretions that occur via the stool
What should go back to the blood

The liver stores vitamins as well as minerals such as copper and iron and releases them when the body needs them. It helps break down fats in a person's food. It also stores them or releases them as energy.

It also produces an estimated 800 to 1,000 millilitres of bile per day. This bile is transported to the small intestine via a bile duct. The small intestine uses the bile to further break down fats. The excess bile is stored in the gallbladder.

Other functions of the liver

The liver also breaks down proteins. A by-product of this process is ammonia, which can be toxic to the body in large quantities. The organ converts the toxic ammonia into a substance called urea. The liver releases this into the blood, where the kidneys excrete it through the urine.

The liver also breaks down the alcohol in the blood, as well as many medicines you take.

As if these functions were not enough, the liver also plays an important role in the following:

In creating factors that can fight infections.
Creation of proteins that are responsible for blood clotting.
Degradation of old and damaged red blood cells.
Storage of additional blood sugar as glycogen.

When you consider these factors, it is easy to see how important the liver is to a person's health.

EFSA recommendations for liver damage at a glance:

Infusions with green tea:

dried green tea leaf and powder on wooden background — Green tea

For green tea infusions, EFSA concluded that in general, even after high consumption, there is no evidence of liver damage. The individual cases of liver damage were probably due to rare reactions. Therefore, the experts classified catechins from green tea infused with hot water, as well as from instant and ready-to-drink Green tea drinks with similar catechin content as generally safe.

Food supplement with green tea

For food supplements, EFSA's experts found that EGCG doses of 800 mg/day may be associated with early signs of liver damage from green tea. A recent study reports in particular on people who are particularly susceptible to liver damage due to mutations in liver enzymes. Here, too, however, we are talking about intake in the high-dose range above 800 mg/day.

Even though there was no evidence of liver damage below 800 mg/day for green tea-based supplements, the experts could not determine a safe dose based on the available data.

tigovit green tea capsules & liver damage: What is important to know!

In this section we explain how you can take the tigovit green tea supplement without hesitation.

3 factors that are important for the best possible intake of green tea supplements:

Point 1: Quality matters

As with all things that we humans consume, the origin and quality of the ingredients also matter with green tea. Let's not fool ourselves: Green tea capsules from low-quality cultivation, with the use of pesticides and genetic engineering cannot be beneficial in the long run. If the green tea harvest is also bought 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.

It's different at tigovit! We know how cultivation works for the Green tea plants for tigovit. First the cultivation area: It is located near the Yellow Mountains, which belong to the most famous and beautiful mountain regions in China. Because of the very good climatic and environmental conditions, the green tea plants from this mountain region are said to have higher quality polyphenols than those from other growing areas.

Pesticide-free cultivation for the green tea in tigovit

For more than 20 years, our Chinese partner Mr. Chang has been growing green tea on this tea plantation, which is also certified organic according to German standards. This guarantees a soil that has hardly come into contact with pollutants for two decades, has many nutrients and where the plants can grow without exhaust fumes or other environmental pollution.

This really pure and high quality, tested several times in laboratories, comes in the capsules from tigovit, which are what they promise: naturally pure, tested and with the best possible ingredients!

Point 2: Production with water is important!

Did you know? There is no uniform worldwide manufacturing process for herbal extracts. This means that green tea capsules produced in the USA or other non-European countries may have a different quality than products from the EU. Extracts intended for the D-A-CH countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) must be extracted with water only.

In recent years, however, herbal supplements containing green tea have been withdrawn from the US market. The reason? Liver poisoning! It is exciting that exactly these products were produced with 80 % ethanol as an extraction agent and were standardised to 25% of the green tea extract EGCG. Procedures and values that are not permitted in the EU!

Point 3: Do not take more than recommended!

As already written: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found that 800 mg/day of EGCG may be associated with initial signs of liver damage from green tea. One capsule of tigovit has 170 mg of pure EGCG. The recommended daily dosage is a maximum of 3 capsules, which is only 510 mg. With 3 tigovit capsules a day, you are thus well below 800 mg and thus within the range recommended by the EFSA for the intake of green tea.

Sources:

https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8187-due-to-risk-of-liver-damage-eu-limits-green-tea-extract-with-egcg-in-foods
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/efsajournal/pub/5239
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/de/press/news/180418
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/liver-anatomy-and-functions

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Pic by Simplyvegan.org

Prepare your skin for summer

28 July 2022 by dorothea.pfeffer@gmx.de

Author: Iris Sretenovic

With summer and hot days upon us, many of us want to get that perfect, long-lasting tan. But beware: not preparing for the sun can have negative consequences for the skin, especially for those with a lighter complexion. To get the results you want, while maintaining the health of your skin and body, we've put together the perfect tips to help you do just that.

PROPER NUTRITION

You may not have thought of it at first, but proper nutrition is important for preparing your skin well for summer. Before the summer starts, but also during the summer months, include as many orange and red foods as possible in your diet, e.g. peaches, watermelons, nectarines, tomatoes or carrots. These foods are extremely rich in beta-carotene and also have a positive antioxidant effect on the body. Beta-carotene is a provitamin that can be supplied to the body as a food supplement in the form of tablets. In the body, it is converted into vitamin A, which protects the epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes.

Excessive sun exposure generates harmful free radicals. They damage the skin tissue and this leads to skin changes such as wrinkles, pigment spots or sunburn and thus to premature skin ageing. Astaxanthin helps to prevent such phenomena and promotes natural self-tanning. In fact, it is a red pigment with strong antioxidant effects. Unlike other carotenoids, however, it is not converted into vitamin A in the body.

In case you didn't know, carotenoids are natural pigments that give plants, algae and animals their characteristic colour. Melanin production also depends on the amount of carotenoids in the body.

Since melanin is the largest natural "self-tanner", it is easier to support and achieve the desired skin colour. The strong antioxidant effect of carotenoids also reduces the negative effects of UV radiation.

Also food supplements based on Green tea extract in combination with vitamin C are a hot tip for this. Green tea is rich in catechins, powerful antioxidants that reduce skin redness and improve skin hydration and elasticity. Research also shows that vitamin C helps reduce the breakdown of epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, and EGCG in turn can enhance the antioxidant effects of vitamin C as well as vitamin E.

The ideal time to start taking supplements would be about one month before the start of sun exposure. This way you prevent sun allergies and prepare your skin optimally. Summer can come!

SKIN MOISTURE

During the summer heat, it's important to keep your whole body hydrated. So don't forget to moisturise your skin too! Ideal hydration includes gentle exfoliation of the skin (don't forget the face!), which thoroughly removes dead cells, cleanses the pores and strengthens microcirculation. Be sure to nourish the skin afterwards with Moisturisers that also contain antioxidants.

tigoderm Grüntee Tagescreme — tigoderm Green Tea Day Cream

Regular but not too frequent treatments of the skin with peelings reduce dehydration, the skin becomes more sun-resistant and visibly healthier. Replace the heavy and greasy winter cream with a lighter one that is absorbed more quickly and does not grease the skin.

In summer, it is especially important to cleanse the face thoroughly, preferably before going to bed. However, you should not overdo it when cleansing and washing your skin, especially if you tend to have oily skin. Excessive cleansing can stimulate the glands to produce even more oil, which has the opposite effect to what is actually desired.

In addition to external skin care and hydration, don't forget internal hydration. In fact, research has shown that drinking water can be beneficial to your health, especially dermatologically as a prevention against ageing skin.

The skin consists of three layers - the outer layer (epidermis), the subcutaneous layer (dermis) and the subcutaneous tissue. If the outer layer of the epidermis does not contain enough water, the skin loses elasticity and becomes rough.

To hydrate your skin, you can also incorporate the following steps into your beauty routine:

Do not expose the skin to hot water for too long.
Be sure to cleanse the skin gently.
Avoid using deodorants and skin care products that contain alcohol, fragrances, retinoids or alpha hydroxy acid.
Moisturise the skin with a nourishing moisturiser after bathing, showering or washing your hands.

HIGH QUALITY MASSAGE

This does not mean a professional massage in a spa, but a massage you can do yourself at home. Take a bottle of vegetable oil (olive or almond oil) and massage the whole body and face well. This treatment causes a better metabolism and blood circulation and the elimination of toxins. To do this, the massage reduces muscle tension, stress in muscles, skin and tissues, while reducing the production of the stress hormone cortisol in the body, which leads to relaxation and balance of the body.

Using massage to relieve stress can improve skin health and reduce the appearance of various changes such as dark spots, dry skin and clogged pores. So you could say that massage can also act as a preventative against certain superficial inflammations.

REMOVE HAIR IN TIME

Any method of hair removal has a negative effect on our skin if used immediately before sunbathing. To solve this problem, make sure to remove excess hair in time with wax, sugar paste or an epilator. Use razors as infrequently as possible and replace the razor after a maximum of five uses, as it becomes dull with each use and does not remove hair properly, putting additional stress on the skin.

USE A SUN PROTECTION FACTOR

The skin is exposed to various environmental, chemical and genotoxic agents that contribute to disease and carcinogenesis. Ultraviolet light (UVR) is the primary external stress that leads to a poorer immune system, oxidative stress, premature ageing and tumour formation. Researchers emphasise the importance of prevention to avoid such undesirable consequences.

Plant polyphenols are a promising approach to disease prevention and treatment. Green tea has also been shown to be a very rich source of plant polyphenols, which show significant antioxidant, chemopreventive and immunomodulatory effects in skin protection. Remember that the most naturally protective factors are also the best. In other words, the skin, as our largest organ, absorbs all the ingredients of the preparations we apply. Therefore, it is important to use natural preparations without harmful ingredients for our health.

And what shortens our way to the ideal preparation for skin protection and care is the fact that the substances contained in it are Polyphenol antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by UV radiation and may be able to stop most of the harmful effects of the sun. Green tea is not only used orally as Food supplements recommended for skin protectionbut can also be used for external application.

PEELING OR EXFOLIATION

In order to accustom the skin to the sun after winter, peeling is a cosmetic must-have. During the preparation period, treatments must be done once a week. All dead cells of the dry winter skin disappear, the skin regenerates and slowly becomes fresh and smooth again. It regains the desired natural glow. Peeling treatments unclog pores and allow the skin to breathe. Many women go to beauty salons for this, but our tip is to try a peeling with natural ingredients yourself.

Here's a simple recipe for natural exfoliation!

All you need is:

Green tea
A spoonful of honey and
A spoonful of sugar

How to: After you have brewed the tea, let it cool down a little. For this homemade treatment, you need the green tea leaves. Mix them with honey and sugar and you will get the desired mixture. Massage the facial skin and leave everything on for 20 minutes. At the end, wash everything off with lukewarm tap water and finally apply a moisturising face cream.

If you follow the tips above, you won't have to worry. By the end of the summer, you will have sun-kissed, but also healthy, glowing skin!

SOURCES:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796122/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4529263/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3390139/

Green tea extract (EGCG) and probiotic bacteria: Beauty substances for the skin

3 November 2021 by dorothea.pfeffer@gmx.de

Green tea has experienced a boom as a drink in recent years. And also as an active ingredient in skin care, the "gold of Asia" creates a sensation and that certain glow on the skin.

Another exciting ingredient for beautiful skin that is on the rise right now: probiotic bacterial strains! Who would have thought it, but probiotics in creams are currently conquering the cosmetics market and showing that probiotics don't just belong on your plate.

What effects the probiotic bacteria and also green tea have for the skin, and whether even the combination of these two substances is the key to a better skin isyou can find out here.

GREEN TEA AS A BEAUTY BOOSTER

Green tea is called "liquid jade" in some cultures. Extracted from the Camellia sinensis plant, it has been used for centuries for beauty. One of the most powerful antioxidants are polyphenols, which are found in green tea. The most important one here is a catechin called epigallocatechin gallate, also known as EGCG.

Studies show that the Antioxidants in green tea have a protective effect against cell damage and free radicals. One of the most interesting studies(2) looked at forty women with moderate skin ageing. One group received a green tea nutritional supplement with green tea cream. The other group received placebo products. Biopsies of the skin were taken at the end of the study. Women who were given the Green tea products given had significantly increased elasticity, while the placebo group showed no improvement.

GREEN TEA AGAINST ACNE

Goodbye pimples: According to a study(1), the consumption of green tea could help reduce acne. The antioxidant contained in green tea is said to be responsible for this. EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which is known for its anti-inflammatory effect.

For a study, researchers from the National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan selected 80 women between 25 and 45 with moderate to severe acne. Half of the women drank a decaffeinated green tea extract equivalent to one cup a day for four weeks. The other half received a placebo.

At the end of the four weeks, it was shown that the women who had consumed the green tea had significantly less acne in the critical areas such as the nose and chin. The antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) contained in green tea is said to be responsible for this. Interestingly, the group of women who consumed the Green tea extract also had much lower cholesterol levels.

The ingredients contained in green tea could therefore improve inflammation, reduce irritation and redness and help the skin to repair itself.

ANTI-AGING WITH GREEN TEA

tigoderm Grüntee Gesichtsmaske - — tigoderm Green Tea Face Mask - 100% Natural Cosmetics

Good news for green tea fans: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and repair properties of EGCG protect the skin from premature ageing and wrinkling. In studies(3), a preventive effect and a smoothing of the skin thanks to green tea could be observed above all. In many cases, already existing wrinkles disappeared. The Skin texture worked overall smoother, firmer and altogether younger due to the active ingredients contained in green tea.

MICROBIOME: THE ECOSYSTEM OF YOUR SKIN

The largest organ in our body forms one of the most important microbial environments: the skin. Weighing over 5 kg, it is an interface between the inside of our body and the outer shell. It performs an important protective function, the barrier function, and is home to many microbial organisms responsible for the health and beauty of the skin.

This unique position makes the skin very vulnerable. The stress of daily life can weaken the microorganisms(4) that populate the skin. The lack of protection makes our skin more helpless against environmental influences such as smog, UV radiation and stress.

Just like the intestine, the skin is also a habitat for numerous living microorganisms, i.e. bacteria. This bacterial carpet, also known as microflora, maintains the skin's natural acid mantle and strengthens the cells against free radicals, pathogens and bad bacteria that can cause inflammation.

WHAT IS PROBIOTIC SKIN CARE?

Probiotic cosmetics is the new "must-have" that is just being discovered by research for skin care. In this process, beneficial extracts of "good" bacteria that have a positive influence on the skin are added to creams and lotions. The aim is for the bacteria to settle in the areas to which they are applied and have a targeted effect there.

tigoderm probitotische Nachtcreme — tigoderm probiotic night cream

As soon as they touch the skin, the bacteria are activated. The good ones multiply while the weakening ones are diminished. The body's own protective debt to the skin is stabilised and strengthened, and it's all thanks to the probiotic bacteria.

But what does probiotic actually mean?

The label "probiotic" may already be familiar from yoghurts or drinks with live lactic acid bacteria. They are very useful for our intestinal flora. Probiotic skin care, like food, uses the Positive effect of probiotics. The living microorganisms such as lactic acid or special bacteria are added to creams and lotions. They are designed to naturally strengthen the skin's protective layer and support skin functions.

WHAT ARE PREBIOTICS, PROBIOTICS AND POSTBIOTICS?

In skin care, mainly pre- and probiotics are used for this purpose:

– Probiotics are living organisms or those that can activate themselves - lactic acid bacteria, for example.

– Prebiotics are nutrients for probiotics (mostly not organisms), such as fibre in the gut.

– Postbiotitka are products produced by probiotics such as insulin, fatty acids, messenger substances, hormones, enzymes.

PROBIOTIC COSMETICS: BRINGING THE SKIN INTO ITS NATURAL BALANCE

Probiotics can have a positive effect on the balance of the skin's own microbiome in different ways. It depends on which strains of microorganisms are involved in the individual case. Some dock onto skin cells and strengthen the protective barrier. Others serve as food for the skin's own microorganisms.

BETTER UPTAKE OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY BACILLUS SUBTILIS

And what about the benefits of probiotic bacteria? Spore-forming bacteria such as the Bacillus subtilis have long been used for their high heat resistance as a Probiotics for the diet used. Its spores are extremely resistant to desiccation and tolerate a wide pH range, which are considered characteristics of good probiotic bacterial strains.

In addition, this bacterium has several properties that make it a perfect candidate for skin care. Numerous studies confirm that the application of bacterial cultures on the skin surface provides improved skin permeability, which is a crucial factor for successful skin treatment. The active ingredients can work where they should: in the skin.

EGCG & PROBIOTICS: THE PERFECT COMBINATION FOR THE SKIN

And this is where it gets exciting, because a care enriched with the pore-opening Bacillus subtilis, prepares the skin for the active ingredients that follow. These can then be absorbed all the better and unfold their beneficial effect. And this in deeper layers of the skin.

If the skin is then pampered with special ingredients such as green tea and its antioxidant power, the outer shell can be protected from environmental influences and free radicals and the skin's natural detoxification function can be supported. A fountain of youth at the cellular level that makes the skin elastic and gives it resilience.

IS PROBIOTIC SKIN CARE VEGAN?

Depending on what is used as a source of bacteria: The commonly used lactobacilli, which are made from milk, are of course not vegan. But you can also get lactobacilli from sauerkraut and then they are vegan. Bacillus subtilis is also a vegan bacterium, because it occurs in nature in humus-rich soil (hay), dust, air, water, in the intestines of humans and animals.

WHO IS PROBIOTIC SKIN CARE SUITABLE FOR?

In principle, probiotic skin care is suitable for everyone, regardless of their age. Skin type is available. Any skin that could use more vitality and resilience could try the new, scientifically studied active ingredients, probiotics in skin care.

Sources:

https://ichgcp.net/de/clinical-trials-registry/NCT01687556
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22526068/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412948/
https://europepmc.org/article/MED/32664353#B54-microorganisms-08-01023