Do green tea and health benefits go hand in hand? Or is it advertising hype? There are scientific studies supporting practically everything that is being said. But, some of the claims may be overstated.

For example, one of the popular diet gurus recently appeared on a talk show and said that a person could lose 10 pounds in six weeks by drinking green tea instead of coffee. Unless he has done his own clinical research on that statement, there is no science to back up that claim.

All of the research is in the really early stages. It is an area of study that is exploding. Already in 2009, the results of 15 separate studies have been published concerning the uses of the extract and this is only March. But, all of these have been conducted using cell lines, cultures or animal models. Clinical trials, using human volunteers, have been small.

One of the trials showed increased abdominal fat loss in overweight and obese adults that consumed a beverage containing 625mg of catechins, the antioxidant found in green tea. That may sound like it supports the weight loss claim made by the diet guru, but not really.

They drank the beverage on a daily basis and exercised for at least 180 minutes per week. The researchers only suggested that increased catechin intake could increase fat lost during exercise. In addition, the average catechin content of a cup of green tea or the extract would be no where near 625mg. Most researchers are concerned that a high dosage like that could have pro-oxidant effects.

Some other antioxidants do cause oxidative damage at high dose. One research group showed that high concentrations cause oxidation of brain cells. They even showed the biochemical pathway that causes that undesirable effect.

It is always possible to get too much of a good thing. Moderation is the key. Studies have shown that moderate caffeine intake decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. Intakes exceeding 500mg per day are known to cause health problems, including heart palpitations, anxiety and insomnia.

Moderate alcohol consumption is believed to be good for the heart. Excess alcohol intake causes liver problems, weight gain and high cholesterol. All of which contribute to heart disease.

If you take a step back and look at all of the studies, you will see that green tea extract may help prevent cancer, high blood sugar, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, obesity and high cholesterol. But, if you want these benefits, you need a supplement that includes a moderate dosage.

The supplement that I take was developed by a chemist, nutritionist and doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. It contains over 70 different bioactive nutrients, including 100mg of green tea extract. If all goes according to plan, the supplement will help reduce my risk of life threatening diseases and extend my lifespan.

To sum it up; health claims are sometimes overstated or not clearly explained. It may be that green tea and health benefits do go hand in hand, but that remains to be seen. All that we really know is this. In moderate amounts, it’s good for us.

Related Health Benefits Of Tea Articles