Green tea has been well noted in recent years for it's numerous health properties. The key to tea's health benefits is a class of polyphenols which tea contains in abundance. So far, over 4,000 phenolic compounds have been identified. Polyphenols, like other antioxidants, help protect cells from oxidative damage. One of the most powerful and researched phenolic compounds is a group called catechins, in particular, a catechin known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Research has demonstrated that EGCG may be protective against certain cancers, heart disease, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Green tea has also been shown to lower blood glucose, reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, increase feel good brain chemicals (dopamine and GABA) and stimulate the metabolism.
Of interest for the exerciser is the effect that green tea has on fat oxidation rates at both rest and during exercise. A study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a green tea extract supplement containing around 900 mg of polyphenols and 365 mg of EGCG increased fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise 17% more than the placebo and improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance by 13% in healthy young men.
Using this information, I provide green tea for all clients at my gym prior to training. I use the Jasmine tea from expert tea merchant Clayton Pine http://www.pineteacoffee.com.au/ and if clients don't like the taste of green tea, I suggest taking a green tea extract similar to the one used in this study. The highest quality EGCG supplement is made by Kingsway Compounding 1300 564 799.
If making the green tea, you'll want about 2 cups of tea that has been steeped for about 10 minutes.
Enjoy and have a great Christmas. I'm off to sunny Forster for a month to get my year's dose of vitamin D.
Tony,
Avalon
