Mega Green Tea And Weight Loss

If you're hoping to achieve the weight loss benefits of green tea without drinking it in large quantities, taking green tea in capsule form may be appealing. Mega-T Green Tea capsules contain nearly as many antioxidants as freshly brewed green tea. But the capsules also contain additional herbs that may adversely affect some users.

Antioxidants

The labels on bottles of Mega-T Green Tea capsules advertise that you can lose up to 20 lbs. --- if you include diet and exercise along with the green tea supplements. The capsules could augment your weight loss efforts but may produce little effect on their own. Mega-T Green Tea capsules contain 90 mg of catechins, the antioxidant in green tea associated with fat-burning powers. The amount of catechins compares favorably with green tea brewed from loose leaves, which contain 127 mg of catechins, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The capsules also contain more catechins than many green tea bags, which the USDA says range from 19 mg to 100 mg. Mega-T Green Tea capsules also contain about twice as many catechins as flavored green teas and eight times as many as in bottled drinks.

Weight Loss Calculations

The manufacturer of Mega-T Green Tea capsules recommends you take two pills daily, giving you a total of 180 mg of catechins. This amount is less than what has proven effective in numerous clinical studies. In a study published by the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" participants lost 5.4 lbs. in 12 weeks by drinking green tea containing 660 mg of catechins --- the amount in seven capsules. About 2.5 lbs of the men's weight loss could be attributed to their consumption of green tea. Based on this calculation, you would lose about a third as much --- less than 1 lb. in 12 weeks --- taking the recommended amount of Mega-T Green Capsules. The rest of the weight lost by the men in the study came from a calorie-restricted diet, according to the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

Diet and Exercise More Effective

Diet and exercise could produce substantially more weight loss. If you restrict calories by 500 a day, you will lose a pound a week, according to the accepted formula that 3,500 calories equals a pound. You needn't go hungry to lose a pound a week. The Mayo Clinic Diet, based on the USDA food pyramid, provides unlimited fruits and vegetables and follows U.S. government health guidelines for carbohydrates, protein and dairy products. Daily exercise also burns calories. Depending on your current weight and pace, you could lose 1 lb. every 10 days through an hour of daily walking.

Additional Ingredients

In addition to catechins, Mega-T Green Tea capsules contain 50 mg of caffeine, about half of what you'd consume in a cup of brewed coffee. The capsules also contain seven other herbs: eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng, and traditionally used to boost energy and prevent colds; fo-ti root, a detoxifying herb used to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, fight fatigue and improve hair health; garcinia, an herb in curry dishes and homeopathic weight loss remedy; guarana extract, similar to caffeine in its effects; gotu kola, traditionally used to promote mental clarity, reduce fevers, relieve stomach ulcers and cure syphilis and bladderwrack and kelp, two forms of seaweed that may improve some forms of underactive thyroid conditions.

Precautions

Green tea is generally considered safe, although its caffeine content could make it problematic for pregnant and nursing women and those with nervous and kidney disorders. Side effects of the other herbs in Mega-T Green tea capsules include: from eleuthero, high blood pressure and sleep disorders; from fo-ti root, loose stools; from guarana, jitters and nervousness and, from gotu kola, liver problems if taken for an extended period of time. Kelp and bladderwrack contain iodine, which could cause hyperthyroidism --- overactive thyroid. Pregnant and nursing women, thsoe with narcolepsy, high blood pressure or liver disorders should consult their physicians before taking herbs in Mega-T capsules, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.