Are the claims on Green Tea real or superficial?

When I first heard about Green Tea, I thought it was just another “anti-stress” gimmick to ease your conscience about the extra work hours you put in. Boy was I in for a surprise! The little information about Green Tea didn’t satisfy my insatiable curiosity and left me in the sceptics corner. But as I researched the technology and science on the subject, it yielded a lot more benefits than those I was aware of.

For ages, the Japanese people drank Green Tea. They have baptised it as “The Fountain of Youth” because of cell rejuvenation properties. Their research also suggests that Green Tea enhances natural thermogenesis of the body, thereby burning 70-80 extra calories when 5 cups are consumed. At first it was presumed that it’s only the caffeine that gives the thermo genic effect, but as research progressed they realised that beyond the caffeine, the effect is mostly generated by the potent antioxidant Epigallocatechin Gallate. (We’ll just use the abbreviation EGCG)

What are antioxidants and why do we need it?

Antioxidants are substances (vitamins, nutrients and phytochemicals) in foods, which can prevent or slow oxidative damage to the body. When the body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals. Free radicals form as a by-product of our natural metabolism, and are enhanced by environmental factors like smoking, pollution and radiation.

They are unstable molecules which react with essential molecules in our body like DNA, fat and proteins. Molecules are made up from different atoms (protons = positively charged & electrons = negatively charged). Thus, free radicals are molecules which have one electron too much or too little in order to stabilize themselves. They steal or give electrons to other stable molecules in cells, thereby changing the cells’ chemical structure and causing the molecules to become free radical themselves.

Chain reactions take place which result in the destruction of cells. Antioxidants have the ability to neutralize free radicals without becoming free radicals themselves. This neutralization effect happens when antioxidants receive or donate electrons to free radicals, rendering the free radical inactive, thus preventing attack on cellular molecules. By deactivating the free radicals, antioxidants assist in the repair and rejuvenation of cells. Can you see why your body needs antioxidants on a daily basis?

Why EGCG?

Throughout the century studies conducted on Green Tea found that it is rich in EGCG. There are over 1000 scientific publications on the known 200 benefits of Green Tea per year, and the following 6 benefits are highlighted (under the spotlight):

Cardiovascular Health

Due to poor diets and sedentary lifestyles, the majority of the population are prone to Atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). The strong anti-inflammatory properties of EGCG have been found to decrease the risk of Atherosclerosis, by decreasing arterial inflammation and so decreasing sticky build up on the arterial walls. It lowers LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol).

Weight Loss

Obesity has risen to epidemic proportions in most of the world. EGCG assists the body in losing weight via three main mechanisms: higher metabolism, higher fat burning and reduction of fat storage.

Cancer

Nearly all cancers are caused by DNA abnormalities. Free radicals destroy and modify DNA in body cells. EGCG is currently known as the most powerful anti- oxidant in nature, and the main function of antioxidants is to fight free radicals, and repair the damage done to cells. There are a number of pathways to cancer prevention by using EGCG.

Arthritis

Because of the reduction of inflammatory prostaglandin E2, EGCG has been found to be beneficial to arthritis patients. EGCG prevents the destruction of cartilage which occurs in arthritic joints.

Diabetes

EGCG can assist type I & II diabetics in many areas by regulating blood glucose levels. Diabetics are prone to developing cardio vascular diseases, especially Atherosclerosis. EGCG can reduce this risk because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Anti-aging

The crux of aging is the damage done to cell membranes, causing poor cellular health and fragile tissue, creating sagging, wrinkly skin. That is only what we see on the outside, but did you know that it starts from the inside? Healthy tissue starts to deteriorate over time and even though we cannot stop the clock on aging, we can slow the process of aging by increasing EGCG in our daily diets. The ability EGCG has on the reduction and neutralization of free radicals enhances optimisation of cellular health and tissue.

So, after all this information, off I went to a health shop, bought some Green Tea and headed home for my first cup of antioxidants and healthy cells. After my first sip... well, the look on my face: priceless. I didn’t like the taste. (Which is why I’m so relieved that Nano Advance contains DCD™ Green Tea, which is equal to 11-14 litres strong Green Tea!) Now I can meet my RDA of antioxidants, effortless!