Green tea capsules, sold by Maximum International and other companies, provide metabolism-boosting powers without the hassle of brewing green tea from loose leaves. The total number of antioxidants in green tea capsules varies and affects their potency as dietary aids. Green tea is considered safe except for persons sensitive to caffeine, but green tea capsules frequently contain additional ingredients that may be harmful to some. It's best to talk to a doctor before using green tea capsules as a dietary aid.
Cactus Plant Extracts in Green Tea Capsules
One product contains extracts from three cactus plants: hoodia, prickly pear and caralluma. The substances may suppress appetite --- Africans used hoodia to stave off hunger during long hunts, for instance --- but clinical evidence of this remains inconclusive. Prickly pear has been used to prevent Type 2 diabetes and relieve hangover symptoms, and caralluma is also used as an appetite suppressant. Hoodia, metabolized in the liver, may cause problems for persons with liver disorders, according to "The New York Times." Ask your doctor if these particular extracts are safe to take.
Other Herbs in Green Tea Weight Loss Capsules
Another popular green tea weight loss supplement contains seven additional herbs aimed at improving energy and mental clarity and boosting metabolism. Some of the herbs may be harmful. High blood pressure and sleep disorders may arise from taking eleuthero --- Siberian ginseng. Guarana may cause nervousness and jitters. Gotu cola, if taken for a long time, could cause liver problems. Bladderwrack and kelp contain iodine and could cause hyperthyroidism. You should only use these herbs with a doctor's permission.
Caffeine
Green tea itself is not harmful, except for persons who can't tolerate caffeine. The amount of caffeine in green tea capsules is lower than what you'd find in a cup of coffee or black tea, but could add up if you exceed manufacturers' recommendations about dosage. This could be tempting, because the amount of green tea catechins --- the antioxidants linked to weight loss --- in green tea capsules may not be high enough to prove effective. One manufacturer, for instance, recommends taking two capsules that provide 180 mg of catechins --- also called EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate and flavonoids on product labels --- while participants who lost weight in some scientific studies have taken two to four times as much.
Green Tea Capsules and Weight Loss
People who took green tea capsules containing 460 mg of catechins daily for eight weeks lost 4.9 lbs. in a study conducted by Arpita Basu and published in August 2010 in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition." Basu, a researcher at Oklahamo State University, compared the results of taking green tea supplements, drinking four cups of strong green tea and drinking four cups of water. Those who drank green tea lost slightly more weight --- 5.5 lbs. --- and people who drank plain water did not report weight loss. The capsules in Basu's study contained green tea powder but no additional herbs.
Green Tea and Belly Fat
In another study, men who consumed 660 mg of catechins daily lost 5.4 lbs. and a substantial amount of abdominal fat. The men in the study, conducted by U.S. researcher Kevin Maki and published in February 2009 in the "Journal of Nutrition," also restricted calories and exercised during the 12-week trial. Some green tea capsules contain nearly as many catechins as a cup of freshly brewed tea and substantially more than bottled green tea and some brands of tea bags.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Hoodia
- Mayo Clinic: Prediabetes
- Caralluma
- "The New York Times"; An Appetite Killer for a Killer Appetite? Not Yet; Mary Duenwald; April 19 2005
- "The International Herald Tribune"; Help for the Morning After; Jonathan D. Glater; Dec. 9 2004
- University of Maryland
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