It is said that green tea is one of the secrets of the Japanese for long life. An 11-year study published in 2006 by researchers at Tohoku University School of Public Policy in Sendai, Japan revealed that adults in Japan who consumed at least five cups of green tea per day had lower mortality rate.
While green tea is not the be-all and end-all, especially on its protective effect against death due to all causes, the many health benefits of this mighty green beverage cannot be denied.
Several researches found that green tea improves blood flow, lowers bad cholesterol, and helps prevent cardiovascular, neurological and degenerative diseases, among a couple more other perks for wellbeing.
Among these health benefits, one of the most-talked about – aside from as of yet premature claims on green tea’s ability to prevent or help treat cancer – is its potential to aid in weight loss. Green tea’s health properties are attributed to its catechins (antioxidants). In the case of green tea’s link with weight management, the fortunate do-gooder is its most significant active component, epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG.
EGCG, or green tea for that matter, does not claim to help melt away excess fat. Recent studies suggest that EGCG helps boost metabolism and curb appetite, resulting in weight loss when combined with regular exercise and a balanced diet.
However, for an individual to reap the effects of EGCG, he has to obtain the right quantity. According to Dr. Tod Cooperman in an article on womenshealthmag.com, EGCG content in a brewable tea bag ranges from 25 mg to 86 mg. Average EGCG content in green tea supplement, on the other hand, is about 70 percent.
Unfortunately, this catechin has poor bioavailability, which means the body has a hard time absorbing it even at high amounts of daily intake.
“We can drink a lot of green tea and think that’s how we can get as much EGCG, but unfortunately our bodies only absorb as little as seven percent of the total amount of catechins and compounds that are in green tea [beverage] and green tea supplement,” reveals Amway senior research scientist Kristin Morris, Ph.D.
Because EGCG is a water soluble polyphenol and is highly unstable, Morris says it can break down before it gets to the part of the gut that absorbs it. “After it crosses our gut, we have to be able to transport it to our tissues, but that’s another area that our body struggles with, because when it comes to these compounds, we have a problem transporting them to the places of our body where they can be used,” she explains.
Recognizing this problem, Amway introduced its newest health supplement under the Nutrilite brand that was created to help individuals realize the full benefits of EGCG.
Nutrilite GreenTrim features a special technology called Green Select Phytosome. The technology produces a small, natural complex that binds EGCG together to help it cross lipid-rich intestinal membranes, thus more is absorbed than eliminated by the body.
“In two tablets of GreenTrim, you get 300 mg of Green Select Phytosome green tea extract. This phytosome sort of packages EGCG and the other catechins in a form that our body is likely to absorb and use,” explains Morris.
Each capsule of GreenTrim contains 40 mg of EGCG, which Morris posits is a lot less than other green tea supplement but its greater absorption helps a person realize the value of this catechin a lot more.
“Instead of having to take a supplement with a huge amount of green tea extract, we’ve taken green tea and packaged it in this phytosome technology so you don’t need to consume [green tea] as much,” says the senior research scientist.
“This phytosome technology is a what makes this a better green tea supplement.”
According to Amway’s research, when GreenTrim is used as a part of a low-calorie diet and regular physical activity, “it may help a person lose body fat and lose more weight.”
Because of numerous evidence showing that green tea helps stimulate thermogenesis (heat production) and fat oxidation, Morris notes that “GreenTrim is for fat-sensitive people, but we can all benefit from it because it works to reduce the amount of fat that is in our body.”
One tablet of Nutrilite GreenTrim must be taken twice daily to reap its benefits. “You can take it at any point of the day when you remember it,” suggests Morris.
