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Natural Green Tea Diet

Nov 2, 2010 | By Milo Dakota
Natural Green Tea Diet
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Several weight loss supplement manufacturers offer "natural green tea" diet pills. The green tea powder in the pills is, indeed, a natural form of antioxidant-rich green tea. But some so-called natural green tea diet pills also contain additional ingredients that may cause unwanted side effects. It's important for you to read product labels carefully so that you know if you're getting more---or less---than you bargained for when buying green tea diet pills.

Antioxidant Levels

All green tea---in pure, powdered or extract form---contains antioxidants called epigallocatechin gallate. This could also be listed on a label as EGCG, catechins or flavanoids. A cup of green tea brewed from loose leaves contains 132 mg of epigallocatechin gallate, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A survey of 15 weight loss studies found that green tea was effective in helping to burn fat when daily doses included at least 300 mg of epigallocatechin gallate, according to the "Los Angeles Times." Therefore, it is imperative to check how much antioxidants the supplements actually contain.

Caffeine Content

If the daily dose of the natural green tea diet pills you're considering exceeds 300 mg of epigallocatechin gallate, the product has passed its first test. Also check for the amount of caffeine in the supplement. Green tea naturally contains caffeine, about half as much as in black tea or coffee. A natural green tea diet pill will contain caffeine, but the amount varies. If you are sensitive to the effects of caffeine, you can seek out decaffeinated versions. Decaffeinated green tea contains about half as many antioxidants as caffeinated green tea, according to the USDA. You would need to take twice as many decaffeinated as caffeinated pills to achieve the same benefits. Decaffeinated tea does contain small amounts of caffeine, however, so check labels and ask your physician before doubling up on supplements.

Check for Additional Ingredients

Some natural green tea diet pills limit their contents to green tea powder. Others include additional ingredients such as calcium, chromium and panax ginseng. The recommended calcium intake for adults between 19 and 50 is 1,000 mg daily, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements from the National Institutes of Health. Chromium helps metabolize fats and carbohydrates. It is quickly secreted, so toxicity from chromium is highly unlikely. Ginseng has no proven effect on weight loss and may cause insomnia, high blood pressure, menstrual problems and other side effects, according to MedlinePlus, a website from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the NIH. Some green tea diet pills contain a long string of additional ingredients that may be harmful.

Weight Loss

The link between green tea antioxidants and weight loss is well established, but the results are not always substantial. A study conducted at Oklahoma State University found that taking green tea powder supplements containing 460 mg of epigallocatechin gallate daily for 8 weeks netted a 4.9 lb. weight loss. The study, led by Arpita Basu and published in 2009 in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition," shows great promise for dieters. But Craig Coleman, associate professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut, found more modest results when reviewing 15 clinical weight loss studies. On average, Coleman said, participants taking green tea products lost an extra 1 to 3 lbs. in three to 24 weeks, reports the "Los Angeles Times."

Considerations

If the ingredients in your natural green tea diet supplements contain only or mostly green tea, you have found a convenient way to enjoy the benefits of green tea without the hassle of home brewing or the side effects of other types of weight loss supplements. Bottled green tea drinks and instant green tea powders offer similar convenience but may not be as effective as natural green tea diet pills in helping you shed pounds. Bottled green tea and drinks from prepared mixes contain 50 to 90 percent fewer antioxidants as tea brewed from loose leaves.

References

Article reviewed by ShellyT Last updated on: Nov 2, 2010

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