If you
were to take every dietary supplement recommended by all of the various experts
in the health and fitness communities, you’d have a tough time trying to fit
regular nutrition into your daily routine.
There’s
no question you want to be in good health, and you’re willing to take some
dietary supplements in order to achieve that goal.
But it
can all be a little too much to take at times.
Here’s
a little secret (and a bit of good news)…
Not all
dietary supplements are created equal. Some are far more important to
your overall health and fitness than others.
Green tea extract is one of those
“more important” supplements – but only if you take the right kind.
(Taking the wrong kind will give you no benefit whatsoever.)
And
that’s why you’re here, on this site. You want to know what the right
(best) supplements are. And we want to help you figure that out.
Today,
we’ll look at one of the more popular green tea extracts, NOW Foods EGCG Green
Tea Extract, and give you both sides of the coin: the good and the not-so-good.
What Is NOW Foods EGCG,
Green Tea Extract?
In the health and fitness
communities, green tea extracts are known for two benefits:
- Weight loss, and
- Cellular protection
While weight loss is always “attractive”,
the verdict is still out on whether commercial green tea extracts are effective
at helping users lose weight.
(And we
need hard proof in order to back certain claims)
But
what we do know is that studies have proven that green tea extract is very
effective at fighting the free radicals produced by your body – the oxidants
that literally deteriorate your body’s cells and tissue.
NOW
Foods EGCG is a green tea extract capsule that contains the same daily amount
of phytonutrients (a.k.a. free-radical fighters) as drinking 2-3 cups of green
tea. This “nutrient cocktail” helps your body produce vital antioxidants that attack and destroy the free radicals that
are so detrimental to your health.
And NOW
Foods EGCG Green Tea Extract appears to have everything your body needs to
efficiently produce these antioxidants.
Main Active Ingredients
in NOW Foods EGCG, Green Tea Extract
There
are three main active ingredients in NOW that help protect your body from cell
damage: Polyphenols, Catechins, and EGCG.
Polyphenols.
NOW Foods EGCG contain 98% total polyphenols. Polyphenols have been proven to help
prevent degenerative diseases like cancer and heart disease.
However, you
have to make sure you’re getting enough each day. The 98% available in
NOW Foods EGCG ensures you’re getting the amount you need.
Catechins.
Catechins are commonly found in
teas. They’re another disease-fighting flavonoid and antioxidants.
And they’ve also been linked with increased weight loss (although the results
have not been conclusive).
Studies suggest that 2-3 cups of green tea are
required to get the full benefits of catechins. One NOW Foods EGCG pill
will give you all the catechins you need, including one extra special one…
EGCG.
EGCG is a catechin that has been
found to have extraordinary powers in fighting free radicals. It inhibits
lipid peroxidation (essentially lowering your bad cholesterol – LDL), helps
prevent certain cancers, diabetes, and liver disease, and promotes joint
health.
What We Don’t Like
About NOW Foods EGCG
It has been reported to cause nausea.
A handful of patients has experienced severe bouts of nausea while taking NOW Foods EGCG Green Tea Extract. While there are countless other factors that can contribute, it is still a concern for potential users.
It
has not been effective for some consumers.
There have been a few reviews that
have reported the ineffectiveness of the supplement. For some consumers,
this was after consistent use for 1-2 months.
What We Love About NOW
Food EGCG
It
has a high percentage of polyphenols and catechins.
The most important component of
any green tea extract is its percentages of polyphenols and catechins.
The lower the percentage, the less effective the pills will be.
This
isn’t a concern with NOW Foods’ EGCG Green Tea Extract. All it takes is
one pill a day to meet your daily requirements.
It’s decaffeinated, but still boosts energy levels in consumers.
One NOW Foods pill has about 4% of the caffeine found in a regular cup of coffee. That’s not a lot of caffeine at all (good thing); however, several consumers have still reported energy boosts from taking the pill (without the “crash”) while getting the protection from the antioxidants and flavonoids.
