Monday, November 18, 2013

Green Tea
Green tea extract is the herbal by-product of the green tea leaf. Green tea is one of best plant sources of antioxidants, with the active ingredients of polyphenols, flavonols and epigallocathechin gallate (EGCG). By weight, green tea extract has 100 times the amount of antioxidant power compared to vitamins C and E. Green tea has been used for centuries as an anti-aging, anti-cancer and weight-control substance.

Cellular Protection and Glucose Regulation
Antioxidants help protect the body from free radicals which damage cellular structures. The abundant supply of antioxidants in green tea acts as an immune booster to counteract the effects of aging and disease. Green tea extract has been proven to lower the "bad" (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood, while also preventing inflammation and protecting your joints. A 2004 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" and cited by the Life Extension Foundation, emphasized the effects of green tea extract as a quicker source of antioxidants compared to vitamins alone. The "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" also notes, in an article published in 2009, that green tea can assist in the proper regulation of glucose.

 Cancer Prevention
According to the University of Tokyo, which conducted a study under Dr. Kuzushige Kawai, EGCG (a powerful component of green tea) inhibited HIV from binding to human T-cells. Green tea extract catechins also inhibit the growth of cancer cells by acting as a chemical barrier. A study published in 2004 in "Cancer Research" also found that EGCG binds to a key enzyme that impedes the manufacture of DNA in tumor cells. The effects of green tea extract are similar to the cancer drug Methotrexate, but with fewer side effects.

Weight Loss
Green tea extract has been shown to increase calorie burn by 4.5 percent, or roughly 70 to 140 calories per day. Without additional caloric restriction or exercise, green tea supplementation can account for an 11- to 18-lb. weight loss in a year. A 2004 article published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that green tea extract can increase the rate of energy expenditure in the human body, since the high concentrations of catechin polyphenols found in green tea extract intensify the level of fat oxidation.

Extract vs. Tea
According to the American Cancer Society, green tea extract is a safe and effective method of antioxidant supplementation. Beneficial results can be seen with one to three capsules of green tea extract taken daily. A 2006 Japanese study also showed two capsules of the extract to be as beneficial as 20 cups of green tea. Green tea extract can be supplemented throughout the day in liquid, leaf or pill form.

Properties and Precautions
Unlike black tea, green tea is not fermented, which makes its antioxidant properties more potent. Green tea extract contains a more concentrated form of antioxidants compared to the leaf itself. Although green tea extract has numerous benefits, the supplement also contains caffeine, a stimulant that has serious side effects if misused. HerbalMedicine.com notes that people who are allergic or susceptible to stimulants should avoid high doses of green tea extract. Green tea extract is also available in a decaffeinated form, and standardized extracts can be ingested with the same benefits as the caffeinated forms of green tea extract.
Green Tea Extract Vs. Green Coffee bean Extract
Green Tea and Green Coffee extract have different mechanisms of action. I think they'd actually be a great stack together. Green Tea being thermogenic and aiding fat burning, while Green Coffee blocking glucose release and forcing the body to preferentially burn fat.

Matcha Green Tea

The health benefits of Matcha tea exceed those of green tea because when you drink Matcha you ingest the whole leaf, not just the brewed water. One glass of Matcha is the equivalent of 10 glasses of green tea in terms of its nutritional value and antioxidant content. For maximum nutritional benefit, Matcha tea is unparalleled.



A cancer-fighter, a fat-burner, and much more, Matcha leaves other green teas far behind.

Every day, countless people throw away valuable antioxidants and minerals. While seemingly unimaginable, that's exactly what happens when you brew a cup of green tea because water can only extract a fraction of green teas benefits. The majority actually remains unused, trapped in the tea leaves. In reality, the only way to truly take advantage of green teas full potential is to consume the entire leaf. But that doesn't mean you need to start eating tea leaves. The simplest solution is to just enjoy a bowl of Matcha. Because Matcha is straight, stoneground tea leaves, Matcha provides you with green teas powerful arsenal of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids in a way no other green tea can. In fact, to even begin to match the potency found in a single serving of Matcha, you would need to drink at least ten cups of brewed green tea. When it comes to helping you achieve and maintain optimum health, Matcha is without equal.

ORAC to the Max: Matcha Is an Antioxidant Powerhouse
One of biggest the buzz words in nutrition, antioxidants are naturally occurring chemical compounds that prevent aging and chronic diseases. Nowadays, a variety of fruits and vegetables are lauded for their antioxidant properties, leading to a host of products with all kinds of claims. But Matcha is unparalleled in comparison. Firstly, Matcha is packed with exponentially more antioxidants according to the latest innovation in antioxidant research. Using the testing method known as ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), experts at Tufts University discovered that Matcha possesses an amazing twenty times more so than pomegranates or blueberries. Matcha's ORAC rating is a mighty 1300 units per gram, compared to pomegranates 105 units per gram or blueberries 91 units.

Other similar types of powder green tea are:  Tencha, Sencha, etc.

Significance of Catechin-Rich Foods

All members of the catechins family fall within the broader category of flavonoids, specific types of which number in the thousands and all of which occur naturally in fruits, vegetables and certain beverages. In recent years medical researchers have focused increased attention on flavonoids -- and catechins in particular -- because of their reputed antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help to counter the effects of free radicals -- atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. Free radicals are byproducts of metabolism, your body’s conversion of food into energy. Consuming foods and beverages rich in antioxidants such as catechins helps to avoid some of the cellular damage that free radicals can cause if their numbers are allowed to outstrip those of antioxidants in your body, according to Rice University’s SportsMedWeb.
Camellia Sinensis Teas
Because it is brewed from unfermented leaves and buds, green tea boasts the highest levels of catechins of all the teas in the Camellia sinensis family. While its catechin and epicatechin counts are relatively modest at 2.6 and 8.3 milligrams per 100 grams, respectively, green tea shines in terms of its high levels of epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and EGCG with a total of 114.3 milligrams per 100 grams. Black tea, made from fermented leaves and buds, has 1.5 milligrams of catechin, 2.1 milligrams of epicatechin and 23.1 milligrams of epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and EGCG per 100 grams, according to data from the University of California, Davis.

Fruit and Wine
If you’re not a tea drinker, you can still get the health benefits of catechins in certain varieties of fruit and fruit products, most notably red wine. Unlike green and black tea, which are highest in epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and EGCG, fruits have relatively low levels of those members of the catechin family but rank higher in terms of catechin and epicatechin content. Most of the catechins in fruit are concentrated in the skin and seeds. Blackberries and black grapes are among the richest fruit sources of catechins, coming in at 37.1 and 10.1 milligrams of catechin per 100 grams, respectively, and 4.7 and 8.7 milligrams of epicatechin, according to the USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Selected Foods. Other fruits high in catechins include apples, cherries, pears and raspberries. Red wine, which gets its color from the skins of grapes, is also rich in catechin and epicatechin.

Cocoa Products
Cocoa and cocoa derivatives are also rich in catechins, most of which fall into the catechin and/or epicatechin categories. Cocoa itself has 26.2 milligrams of epicatechin per 100 grams, according to USDA data. Dark chocolate has 12 milligrams of catechin and 41.5 milligrams of epicatechin per 100 grams, while milk chocolate contains 2.1 and 6.3 milligrams, respectively.

Source: www.matchasource.com , www.bodybuilding.com ,www.woman.thenest.com

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