Green Tea Extract Vs. Green Tea

All natural tea, as opposed to herbal drinks, comes from a single plant called Camellia sinensis. The difference between four types of teas -- black, green, oolong and white -- lies in how long it remains on the plant. The more time leaves stay in the sun, the more they oxidize, affecting the color, taste and chemical properties of the tea. Both green tea and green tea extract contain similar properties that may help you lose weight and protect you from heart attacks and other illnesses.

Potency

Purity of green tea extract and brewing methods of green tea affect their potency. Capsules that contain nothing but green tea extract and green tea brewed properly at home provide similar health and weight-loss benefits. But supplements that contain green tea extract as one of many ingredients won't help you much. Similarly, processed green tea contains a reduced number of catechins, a type of antioxidant. A cup of green tea brewed from loose leaves includes about 127 catechins, but some brands of tea bags contain fewer than 20 catechins. And loose-leaf green tea contains about 10 times as many catechins as bottled green tea.

How Much You Need

The benefits of green tea accrue mostly to those who drink who drink three to six cups of strong brewed tea daily. If you don't like the taste of green tea or are sensitive to caffeine, you could take green tea extract in capsule form instead. You need to consume at least 300 mg of catechins daily to achieve weight-loss benefits and perhaps double that amount to reduce your risk of heart attack and cancer. If you're buying green tea in extract form, check the label for the number of catechins. Some labels might refer to catechins as polyphenols, epigallocatechin-gallate or EGCG. You can buy decaffeinated green tea bags, but they contain fewer catechins than unprocessed green tea.

Always consult a physician before taking any supplements. Supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Possible Health Benefits

People born in Japan live longer and die from strokes and heart attacks 30 percent less often than people who live in North America, according to a study led by Shinichi Kuriyami, a researcher at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan. Shinichi and colleagues followed the health of 40,000 people for 11 years and found that people who drank five or more cups of green tea daily enjoyed longer, healthier lives than people who didn't drink green tea. The study was published in the "Journal of the American Medical Society" in September 2006.

Weight Loss

Green tea and green tea extract may also help you lose weight, according to the results of more than 15 studies reviewed by Craig Coleman, an associate professor of pharmacy at the University of Connecticut. Coleman told the "Los Angeles Times" that weight loss proved consistent but not dramatic. People who consumed 300 mg of more of catechins daily lost 1 to 3 lbs. in three to 24 weeks in excess of weight loss achieved without green tea.

Before beginning any weight-loss regimen, speak to your physician.