Wednesday, January 2, 2013

How Safe Is Green Tea As A Daily Supplement?

By Robert Neely


Talk shows and medical magazines have been advertising green tea extract as a great supplement for fat reduction. With the growing interest of tea, many are concerned about the safeness of the supplement. Many of the press promoting the benefits of tea are not identifying enough of the negative effects. Thoroughly understanding the potential side effects is crucial in order to take health rewards with no damaging outcomes.

Just like many dietary supplements or medicines, the amount has an important role with regards to negative effects. If consumed without care, even the most natural supplement triggers unexpected reactions. Same logic applies here. What exactly is the safe amount of tea?

The most active substances of tea are caffeine and catechin. Both help with using fat as the source to make heat which is known as thermogenesis. This process in return increases metabolic rate. Accelerated metabolism burns body fat much faster in the body.

There were countless scientific studies on caffeine and how it affects human body. Many health specialists are saying commonly above 500mg of caffeine a day is too much. It could be harmful resulting in unwanted effects such as insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, stomach upset, fast heartbeat and muscle tremors. Health experts furthermore agree that sensitivity to caffeine ranges by an individual, but 300mg or below is regarded a low risk dosage.

A cup of tea possesses about 20mg of caffeine. Compare to coffee, it is not a lot. A cup of coffee possesses about 100mg of caffeine. If tea is the only caffeinated drink consumed then it should not be a concern. However when other caffeinated drinks are consumed during the day, then it is critical to look at the entire daily amount of caffeine.

Industry experts carried out tests regarding dosage. A daily amount of 800mg of EGCG has been tested with success and with no unwanted effects. A cup of green tea comes with around 100mg of EGCG, which is about 8 cups of green tea. A lot of lab experiments claim more EGCG equals to greater fat reduction, but some professionals advise that large amount of one substance from herbs could be a problem. It is not easy to make a definite conclusion based on lab studies, but a lot of medical experts are saying 300mg of EGCG is an ideal dose to take on a daily basis. There are successful scientific tests with the amount of 300mg against cancer cells and weight reduction.

With the raising curiosity about green tea, even more tests will be conducted. In the meantime, 300mg seems to be a safe dosage for both caffeine and EGCG.




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