Everything you need to know about green tea extract supplements
Please visit our website for more information on this topic.
For centuries, people have hailed the health benefits of green tea &#;and for good reason. Green tea contains potent antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that have been shown to support skin, brain, and heart health, enhance weight loss, and possibly even protect against cancer [
1
,
2
,
3
]. But are there any benefits to taking green tea extract?
In this guide, we will take a closer look at what green tea extract is, any science-backed benefits, what you should look for in a green tea supplement, and how much you should take. So, pour yourself a cup of green tea and dive in!
Green tea extract is extracted from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and is a highly concentrated form of green tea. It contains potent antioxidants&#;such as flavonoids and polyphenols like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)&#;that protect against cell damage and offer a variety of health benefits [
1
,
4
,
5
].
Studies have shown that consuming green tea and green tea extract could have several positive effects on your health. From supporting weight loss to boosting energy, skin, and heart health and even protecting against cancer, here are the science-backed benefits of taking green tea extract.
Green tea heart benefits
Drinking green tea is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and a lower risk of heart disease-related death, particularly in males [
1
]. Green tea extract may also provide similar benefits and support heart health by helping to reduce blood pressure and improve cholesterol.
These benefits are associated with green tea&#;s anti-inflammatory compounds like EGCG, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and relax blood vessels, as well as lower levels of &#;bad&#; LDL cholesterol [
6
,
7
].
The optimal dose of green tea extract for cholesterol and blood pressure benefits is unknown, but one study in obese patients with hypertension found that taking 379 mg/day of green tea extract produced favorable improvements in both blood pressure and cholesterol numbers [
8
].
Improved alertness, attentiveness, and mood
When you need a little pick-me-up, consider green tea extract for energy.
Green tea naturally contains caffeine, a stimulant that has been shown to boost alertness, energy levels, and reaction time, as well as improve mood and memory [
9
]. Research also shows that EGCG may reduce oxidative damage and inflammation and might help increase attentiveness while promoting calm and relaxation [
10
].
Before you take green tea extract, it&#;s good to know just how much caffeine you&#;re getting. Be sure to read our FAQ section for more information about green tea extract and caffeine and tips for safe consumption.
Healthier skin and improved acne
Studies investigating the benefits of green tea extract show topical green tea extract may be beneficial for both acne and aging skin.
If you suffer from acne, topical application of green tea solutions or EGCG has been shown to help reduce sebum production, blackheads, and inflammation associated with acne [
2
].
Studies have also proven that green tea extract improves skin moisture, reduces roughness, and neutralizes free radicals, making it very effective for treating and slowing the age-related deterioration of the skin [
11
].
For skin benefits, topical application is more effective than the ingestion of green tea or green tea extract [
2
]. Concentrations between 1-6% ECGC and 2-3% green tea solutions have produced positive results related to acne, skin moisture, and smoothness [
2
,
11
].
It may boost weight loss
If you&#;re looking to lose weight, many studies exploring green tea extract for weight loss have shown that green tea may be worth considering.
Green tea supplements, particularly those with caffeine, are associated with modest but statistically significant reductions in BMI, body weight, and waist circumference [
2
,
12
,
13
].
One study in obese women found taking 857 mg/day of green tea extract with EGCG produced more significant weight loss and waist circumference reductions than a placebo [
12
]. As a bonus, the green tea group also saw a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels without any notable side effects [
12
].
Some researchers attribute green tea&#;s weight loss benefits to lower ghrelin production (the body&#;s primary hunger hormone) and an increase in adiponectin. This hormone helps with insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and fatty acid breakdown [
12
,
14
].
Despite some potential benefits on the scale, green tea extract is not a miracle weight loss pill. Evidence shows that by itself, green tea extract does not lead to reductions in key measurements like weight or waist circumference [
13
]. Therefore, to maximize its potential weight loss benefits, you will need to combine green tea extract with a healthy diet, plenty of physical activity, and healthy sleep and stress-management habits.
Anti-cancer benefits
Researchers are also exploring the potential benefit of green tea extract for cancer. Early clinical studies have shown that the polyphenols present in green tea may play an important preventative role in the following types of cancer [
1
,
15
,
16
]:
Endometrial cancer: Green tea has been linked to a reduced risk of developing cancer of the lining of the uterus [
1
]. Breast cancer: Drinking green tea may reduce the risk of breast cancer by 15% [
17
].Ovarian cancer: Regularly drinking green tea seems to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer [
1
].Colorectal cancer: Some studies have shown that green tea drinkers have a 30&#;40% lower chance of developing colorectal cancer [
18
].
Researchers also believe that polyphenols may help kill cancerous cells and stop them from growing. For example, laboratory studies have found that green tea extracts prevent the growth of prostate cancer cells in test tubes. Still, more research is needed to explore whether these benefits can be replicated in a clinical setting and whether green tea extract has any treatment benefit [
3
].
While these results seem promising, much of the research has involved green tea drinkers, not supplements, and many other studies have produced conflicting results. More research is needed to explore green tea's potential anti-cancer benefits, specifically using green tea extract.
When it comes to choosing a green tea extract supplement, it&#;s important to know that not all supplements are created equal. For example, some green tea supplements contain only dry green tea leaves, while others contain isolated forms of one or more polyphenols, like EGCG.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a green tea supplement.
Know what you&#;re getting: Because supplements are not government-regulated, they should be evaluated for purity and quality by a reputable testing organization.
The form of green tea and potency: You&#;ll want to know whether your supplement contains only dry green tea leaves or isolated forms of antioxidants. Supplements made with isolated antioxidants will be more potent and potentially provide more significant benefits.
Whether it contains EGCG: You will find antioxidants listed as polyphenols, catechins, or EGCG on a green tea supplement label. Since EGCG is the most widely researched green tea antioxidant and is closely linked to its health benefits, you should look for a supplement that contains this polyphenol [
2
]. How much caffeine the supplement contains: Green tea extract supplements can contain vastly different amounts of caffeine, from zero to mega doses of 200 mg or more. Consuming too much caffeine can leave you feeling jittery, cause heart palpitations, and interfere with sleep, so it&#;s good to know how much your supplement contains.
If you&#;re not sure about which green tea extract supplement is right for you, there&#;s no need to worry. At Elo, we provide science-backed
personalized smart supplements
made just for you based on
at-home blood testing
,
biomarkers
, a questionnaire, and data from wearables. Depending on your goals, your personalized blend may contain green tea extract, along with a variety of other targeted supplements to help you feel your best.
We also offer 1:1 dietitian support with our Elo Health coaches so you can stay accountable, reach your goals, and better understand your health.
Green tea extract supplements come in liquid, powder, and capsule form and are typically standardized to the amount of polyphenols or antioxidants they provide [
1
]. For topical applications, green tea extract can also be found in certain creams or skincare products.
Green tea extract pills (capsules) are popular because they are convenient and don&#;t have as strong a taste as liquid and powder forms can. If you like the taste of green tea, you can dilute green tea extract liquid in a glass of water and blend green tea extract powder into smoothies.
How much should you take?
While there are no official green tea extract dosing guidelines, studies have shown favorable effects with a green tea extract intake of 300-800 mg/day [
2
]. Intake of EGCG from supplements (which typically make up about 40-50% of the polyphenols in green tea extract) appears safe at 338 mg/day [
2
,
19
].
While green tea supplements are generally well tolerated, consuming large doses of green tea extract can increase the risk of side effects due to the caffeine content [
1
]. The side effects of green tea extract are comparable to caffeine and include restlessness, jitters, heart palpitations, and difficulty sleeping, and it may also worsen anxiety [
1
].
Green tea extract also contains a chemical linked with liver injury when used in high doses [
1
]. In humans, the maximum tolerated dose is around 4.2 g/m2 once daily, or 1.0 g/m2 thrice daily. For someone who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, acute toxicity would occur at a daily dose of 7.9 g/day or 1.9g 3x/day [
1
].
If you suddenly stop using green tea extract, you may experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, irritability, and nervousness. To help prevent withdrawal, lower your dose slowly. Withdrawal is more likely if you have used green tea extract for a long time or in high doses [
20
].
Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking green tea extract if you have any of the following conditions [
20
]:
Anemia (iron deficiency anemia)
Bleeding problems
Diabetes
Glaucoma
Heart problems such as irregular heartbeat or recent heart attack
Stomach or intestinal problems such as ulcers or reflux disease (GERD)
Liver problems
Mental/mood disorders (such as anxiety and panic attacks)
Low levels of calcium in the blood
Bone problems such as osteoporosis
Here are some other things to keep in mind before adding green tea extract to your routine.
May inhibit iron absorption
Green tea catechins, primarily EGCG, have been shown to inhibit iron absorption. To avoid this, consider taking green tea supplements two hours before or after eating iron-rich foods like meat, poultry, shellfish, beans, tofu, and fortified breakfast cereals. You can also reduce this interaction and enhance iron absorption by pairing your plant-based iron-rich foods with vitamin C [
2
].
Might reduce blood levels
Green tea has been shown to reduce blood levels and the effectiveness of certain blood pressure and heart medicines at high doses. Consult your healthcare provider before taking high doses of green tea extract [
20
].
May not be appropriate for pregnancy
If you are pregnant, consult your doctors about the risks and benefits of green tea extract supplements before taking them. As previously mentioned, most green tea supplements contain caffeine, and it is recommended that women limit caffeine during pregnancy. This product may also decrease folic acid, and low levels of folic acid are associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects [
20
].
Research repeatedly shows green tea extract is safe when taken in doses up to 800 mg/day, possibly for up to two years [
1
,
2
]. Individual studies have shown single doses from 1,200-1,600 mg EGCG can be tolerated; however, as dose size increases, so does the incidence of side effects [
2
].
Toxicity can occur from very high doses of green tea extract. In humans, the maximum tolerated dose is around 4.2g/m2 once daily, or 1.0g/m2 thrice daily. For example, for someone who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, acute toxicity would occur at a daily dose of 7.9 g/day or 1.9g 3x/day [
1
].
While you may experience benefits sooner, many studies have shown green tea extract benefits in as little as 8-12 weeks of supplementation [
2
].
Green tea extract comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. For green tea, young leaves of the plant are harvested, withered, steamed, or pan-fried, then dried. This process preserves many beneficial compounds in green tea, which can then be extracted and consumed as a supplement.
Green tea extract often has caffeine. The amount of caffeine in green tea extract can vary widely, from mild (2-50 mg caffeine) to mega-dose (>200 mg caffeine).
If you&#;re new to green tea supplements or don&#;t regularly consume caffeine, it&#;s best to start with a supplement that contains a more modest amount of caffeine (30-50 mg) and adjust your intake accordingly. Up to 400 mg of caffeine daily appears safe for most healthy adults [
21
]. Taking green tea extract earlier in your day will also minimize the risk of its caffeine affecting your sleep.
If you prefer to avoid caffeine, decaffeinated green tea supplements contain little to no caffeine.
Summary
Green tea extract is a highly concentrated form of green tea that contains potent antioxidants. Green tea has several health benefits, from supporting weight loss to boosting energy, skin, and heart health and even protecting against cancer. Moderate intake of green tea extract in the 300-800 mg/day range appears safe and effective, possibly for up to two years [
1
,
2
]. To get the most out of your green tea supplements, choose one that has been quality tested and contains EGCG. At Elo, our expert dietitians can help you determine whether green tea extract supplements might benefit you.
Disclaimer: The text, images, videos, and other media on this page are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat, diagnose, or replace personalized medical care.
Throughout history, few beverages have captured the hearts and palates of people worldwide quite like tea. Its origins can be traced back at least 2,100 years to roots in the medicinal practices of ancient Asia,1 2 including the use of green tea for treating ailments like typhoid or digestive issues.3 4
While all tea comes from the same plant &#; Camellia sinensis &#; green tea is arguably the most studied variety due to its potential health benefits.3 5 In recent years, this research has suggested green tea may be able to help with a myriad of health concerns, including some cancers, cardiovascular concerns, inflammation, arthritis, neurological diseases, HPV-related diseases,6 and more.4
But it&#;s important to note that you likely won&#;t see these potential benefits just by having an occasional cup of green tea, as many of the studies demonstrating these positive outcomes involved participants who drank 3-5 cups or more per day.9 10 Not everyone has a love for green tea that compels them to drink multiple cups daily, and some people can&#;t even get the often-bitter drink past their lips.
In these scenarios, supplementing with a green tea extract may be an ideal solution, allowing you to reap the potential perks of green tea without having to double your daily liquid (and caffeine) consumption. If this sounds like a good choice for your lifestyle and health goals, our guide breaks down the research, pros, cons, and details surrounding our top five choices. If you&#;re in a hurry, here is a quick snapshot of our recommendations.
Our Top Choice
Zenwise Green Tea Extract
Zenwise Green Tea Extract provides high amounts of potentially health-boosting polyphenols at a reasonable price.
Each vegan capsule contains less caffeine than a cup of green tea, with much more EGCG. All orders are covered by an unlimited lifetime guarantee.
Table of Contents
In this Review
Why you should trust us
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has been dedicated to empowering tens of millions of readers, supporting them in making well-informed decisions about maintaining their well-being and embracing healthier lifestyles.
Our approach involves comprehensive testing of each product or service we review, focusing on quality, the latest medical research, and current health standards. For this guide to the best green tea extract, we personally tried and investigated these supplements while thoroughly examining over 45 scientific articles and journals on the potential benefits, drawbacks, and key components of green tea extracts.
Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
Our top considerations
When choosing products to recommend, we examine various criteria. In the case of green tea extracts, we looked at safety, efficacy, cost, and convenience.
- Safety is our top priority &#; if you&#;re consuming something with hopes of boosting your health or well-being, it&#;d be counterproductive to take something potentially dangerous.
- The efficacy of a product isn&#;t always clear from a look at ingredient quantities, and certain factors can make one supplement more effective (and worth your time and money) than another.
- When you spend money on a product, you&#;re likely looking to find value in the item of your choice. While the total dollar amount certainly comes into play, we also evaluate what that gets you in the end.
- For green tea extract supplements, nearly all of them are more convenient than drinking half a dozen cups of tea every day. But certain aspects, like dosages, can make one supplement that much more convenient than its competitors.
Safety
Winner: PureBulk
When it comes to taking supplements, safety is extremely important. Since the FDA doesn&#;t approve supplements the same way they do medications, supplement companies must take extra steps to ensure they're producing safe products.11 This often involves maintaining current good manufacturing practice (cGMP or GMP), subjecting their products to independent third-party testing, and being transparent about ingredients.
A couple of the companies that produce our top picks &#; Zhou and Zenwise &#; do their own in-house testing rather than bringing in an independent third party. And Vitacost takes a unique approach to testing by requiring its manufacturers to provide a Certificate of Analysis that shows the ingredients and products conform to the company&#;s testing and safety specifications.
PureBulk, however, goes further than the competition through the use of independent third-party testing to make sure its supplements are safe. Additionally, the company makes it extremely easy for customers to request testing results and other product safety information. If you purchase a product from PureBulk, you&#;ll find a lot number on the front label. On the brand&#;s website, under the &#;Help&#; tab, you can find a link to the COA Request page, where you can request multiple quality and safety documents.
PureBulk products are also produced in a GMP-compliant facility, as are our other top picks &#; Zenwise (cGMP), Zhou (GMP), and Vitacost (cGMP).12
Efficacy
Winner: Zenwise
Different supplements have different reasons for being more or less effective. For some, it may be the dosage; for others, it could be the coating of its capsule. With green tea, both the beverage and the extract, the potential it holds for healthful outcomes is linked to its catechin content &#; particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).4 Researchers believe EGCG is responsible for a majority of green tea&#;s beneficial possibilities, such as a reduced risk for colorectal cancer.4 13
However, research has shown that the catechins and EGCG in brewed green tea have a tendency to break down or degrade. Zenwise green tea extract is the only one on our list that includes vitamin C (ascorbic acid) as an ingredient, which studies have suggested might not only prevent or reduce the degradation of catechins in your digestive system,19 but may also increase their bioavailability.20
This means that Zenwise&#;s green tea extract has a potentially higher chance of bringing you beneficial outcomes compared to the products from competitors that don&#;t include vitamin C as an ingredient (Zhou, Vitacost, PureBulk, and most of the others on the market). But before you discount any green tea extract without vitamin C, know that more research is necessary to confirm these findings.
Cost
Winner: Vitacost Green Tea Extract - Standardized
While the amount of money you have to spend on a supplement definitely matters, we also take into consideration details like ingredient amounts and servings when considering the cost. If a product is really inexpensive but doesn&#;t give you nearly as much of an ingredient as another product that costs an additional $2.00, we&#;d give the crown to the latter item.
Vitacost&#;s standardized green tea extract, however, manages to be the least expensive capsule option on our list while delivering equal or greater amounts of beneficial compounds as our runner-up option from Zhou Nutrition. The only thing that held back Vitacost from being our runner-up was its inclusion of gelatin, which makes it unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans. (Vitacost does offer a decaf variety of its green tea extract that is vegan-friendly, but it&#;s more expensive.)
The chart below compares some details of our overall winner, Zenwise, our runner-up, Zhou, and our best budget pick, Vitacost. As a quick note regarding terms in the chart: EGCG is a catechin, and catechins are a type of polyphenol found in green tea.21 These components are the building blocks that make up the total green tea extract.
ZenwiseZhou NutritionVitacost
Cost per bottle$21.97$22.99$6.99 - $18.99
Servings per bottle - 300
Cost per serving$0.18$0.19$0.06 - $0.07
Green tea extract per serving725mg500mg500mg
Polyphenols per serving98% (710.5mg)95% (475mg)98% (490mg)
Catechins per servingUndisclosed80% (400mg)80% (400mg)
EGCG per serving50% (362.5mg)50% (250mg)50% (250mg)
Also, PureBulk technically offers the least expensive option per serving (equivalent to Vitacost in polyphenol, catechin, and EGCG content), but you&#;d need to spend over $1,000 for that $0.02 per dose &#; it&#;s a bulk purchase for 25kg (roughly 55lbs) of green tea extract powder. For a more typical purchase of PureBulk&#;s green tea extract in grams, you&#;d be paying closer to $0.10 for your daily dose, which is a few cents more than Vitacost.
Convenience
Winner: Zenwise
One of the perks of green tea extract is that it&#;s substantially more convenient to take than drinking several cups of green tea each day. But not every green tea extract is equally convenient; some people may prefer not having to mix PureBulk&#;s powders, for instance.
Our overall top pick, Zenwise, also wins our choice for convenience due to the dose it offers. In its one-capsule dose, you get 725mg of green tea extract with roughly 363mg of EGCG. This is the highest amount of EGCG available in our top choices and, because of the addition of vitamin C for greater stability and bioavailability, your body may utilize more of the compounds from Zenwise&#;s extract versus the competition.19 20
One of our other picks, Vitacost&#;s decaffeinated green tea extract, offers the same amount of green tea extract with about 326mg of EGCG per serving. Without the purported protection that vitamin C offers, your body might not have a chance to actually use most of that EGCG before it begins to degrade, though more research is needed to confirm this.
Additionally, on the business side of things, Zenwise offers subscription options and a lifetime guarantee. If you realize that the supplement isn&#;t right for you, you can reach out to customer service for a refund or to swap the product out at no additional cost, no matter when you ordered it.
How our top recommendations compare
Photo by Innerbody Research
The chart below breaks down the details of our top picks in terms of costs, servings per bottle or package, the contents of a single serving, allergens, vegan-friendly status, subscription availability, and each company&#;s refund policy. More details on each product can be found in their respective sections later in this review.
Zenwise
Zhou Nutrition
Vitacost
Vitacost (Decaf)
PureBulk
Cost per bottle or package
$21.97
$22.99
$6.99 - $18.99
$14.24 - $26.99
$11.83 - $1,238.05
Servings per bottle or package
120
120
100 - 300
100 - 200
120 - 50,000
Cost per serving
$0.18
$0.19
$0.06 - $0.07
$0.13 - $0.14
$0.02 - $0.10
Green tea extract per serving
725mg
500mg
500mg
725mg
500mg
Polyphenols per serving
98% (710.5mg)
95% (475mg)
98% (490mg)
98% (710.5mg)
98% (490mg)
Catechins per serving
Undisclosed
80% (400mg)
80% (400mg)
75% (543.75mg)
80% (400mg)
EGCG per serving
50% (362.5mg)
50% (250mg)
50% (250mg)
45% (326.25mg)
50% (250mg)
Caffeine per serving
Less than 14mg
15mg
chenlv contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
Undisclosed
None
2% or less
Allergens?
None
None
None
None
None
Vegan?
No, contains gelatin
Yes, if you order the powder or veg capsules
Subscription available?
Yes, 15% off through Zenwise or 5% off through Amazon
Yes, 5% off; only through Amazon
Yes, 10% off
Yes, 10% off
No
Refund policy
No time limit
60 days; only if purchased directly from Zhou on its website or via Amazon
60 days
60 days
90 days; must send back unopened product (refund unavailable for bulk orders over 10kg)
Additionally, we compared the sizes of the capsules offered by each company. They&#;re all nearly identical in size and color, except for Vitacost&#;s standardized capsule, which was the smallest.
Photo by Innerbody Research
What is green tea extract?
Black, green, and oolong teas all come from the processed leaves of Camellia sinensis. The type of tea depends on the stage of leaf development and its processing post-harvest: black tea is fermented, green tea is non-fermented, and oolong tea is semi-fermented. Green tea is made from young tea leaves that are withered, then steamed or pan-fired, and dried. Overall, there&#;s very little processing done to prepare green tea.5
Green tea extract is a highly concentrated form of green tea.22 But, rather than infusing the leaves in water like you would when making a cup of tea, the caffeine and catechins are extracted from tea leaf scraps, often using organic solvents, and then emulsified into a powder.23
A few choice micronutrients are what make green tea such a potentially beneficial beverage. We&#;ll be focusing on polyphenols, catechins, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), but green tea also offers:24
- L-theanine (an amino acid that may improve your mood, cognition, and stress levels)25
- Riboflavin
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Niacin
- Thiamin
- Iron
- Vitamin B6
Polyphenols
Many different plants contain polyphenols, compounds that help plants to defend themselves against pathogens and damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Some research shows that consuming diets rich in polyphenols may help prevent cancers, heart issues, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. Certain polyphenols, like resveratrol or quercetin, act as free radical scavengers.26
There are over 8,000 different polyphenolic compounds found across various plant species. But the four main classes of polyphenols those compounds fall into include:26
- Flavonoids
- Stilbenes
- Phenolic acids
- Lignans
Specifically, green tea is rich in flavonoids.27 Flavonoids are the largest group of polyphenols, containing over 4,000 different varieties that can affect certain aspects of a plant, like its color or taste.26 28 Catechins, abundant in green tea, are considered to be one of the most common flavonoids.26 27
Catechins
Green tea&#;s possible health benefits are often attributed to its catechin content.4 Catechins are a substance found in tea, cocoa, and berries that can help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules created during normal cell metabolism).7 8 While green tea is one of the best dietary sources of catechins, they&#;re also commonly found in foods such as:28 29
Apples
Blueberries
Kiwi
Red wine
Cocoa
Bananas
Peaches
Pears
Several studies on catechins have demonstrated the antioxidative properties of these phytochemicals. They may help our body absorb healthy foods more effectively, protect our skin from UV damage,30 and minimize inflammation associated with allergies and inflammatory bowel disease.31 Green tea catechins also show potential in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases,32 including COVID-19.33
There are four different types of catechins found in green tea:32
- Epicatechin
- Epicatechin-3-gallate
- Epigallocatechin
- Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Last on the list, EGCG, is the most abundant green tea catechin,17 and it&#;s been extensively studied due to its association with a wide range of potential health benefits.27
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Of the four kinds of catechins mainly found in green tea, current research points to EGCG being the powerhouse. A handful of this catechin&#;s suggested effects include:27 34
- Inhibiting tumor growth
- Preventing some cancers
- Increasing antioxidant activity
- Reducing inflammation
- Fighting or preventing viruses
- Lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL, or &#;bad&#;) cholesterol35
EGCG is also the primary chemical thought to be responsible for green tea&#;s thermogenic properties, meaning it might be able to help you lose weight.36
More research on the effects of EGCG, specifically in humans, is needed to confirm these effects. But, the fairly large body of research suggesting that EGCG can boost your health in numerous ways is why you&#;ll almost always find the percent of this catechin listed on the supplement facts label of green tea extracts.
Potential benefits of green tea
There are dozens of potential applications for green tea, but most of them still need much more research before we can say they&#;re definitely true. Based on the research that does exist, it&#;s proposed that green tea could help fight or prevent:4
- Several types of cancer37
- Cardiovascular diseases38
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)31
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol35
- Obesity or overweight36
- Metabolic syndrome39
- Herpes (specifically, herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1))40
- Alzheimer&#;s disease
- Parkinson&#;s disease
Obviously, that&#;s a lot to ask from a cup of tea. And most of these proposed benefits are still theories or only tested in animal models, meaning that we don&#;t know for sure if green tea can help humans in the same way. The only FDA-approved use of green tea is in the topical ointment, Veregen (sinecatechins), which is used to treat genital warts.3
The list of diseases and disorders that green tea may or may not help stretches on longer than this review. If you&#;ve been prescribed medication by your doctor, it&#;s not recommended you switch it out for a green tea supplement. And, as with any supplement, make sure you consult your doctor before taking it.
The differences between green tea extract and steeped tea play out in dosing. One cup of green tea made from a tea bag at home has about 100-150mg of polyphenols (about 75% of which are EGCG when brewed correctly).41 Green tea extracts range from 45% to 50% EGCG, resulting in a lower EGCG-to-polyphenol ratio but more EGCG overall.
Most studies look at the amount of EGCG in each serving to determine a healthy dose. Taking around 300mg of EGCG daily should potentially be enough to see benefits without any side effects,34 42 though studies have shown that you can take up to 675mg without risking your health.43 Doses upward of 800mg EGCG daily (or about 1,500mg of green tea extract per day) can cause liver damage in some people.42 Our top picks have 250mg-450mg of EGCG per serving. To get the same amount of EGCG as one serving of our green tea extract picks, you&#;d need to drink 2-4 cups of green tea per day.
Insider Tip: Polyphenols taste very bitter, so a plain green tea that&#;s less sweet is more likely to be better for you.44
Additionally, green tea extract is also more stable long-term than brewed green tea. In a study from , researchers examined how six months of storage affected the catechin content of eight different commercially sold teas. They found that, even in the absence of moisture, EGCG content decreased by 28% on average.14 And other unrelated studies have focused on how various steeping methods and temperatures can alter EGCG content,15 often with some conflicting results.16 17 Whether tea is prepared hot or cold or stored as the leaf in a cool, dry place, it appears that EGCG will almost always degrade.
But the breakdown of catechins doesn&#;t end there. When subjected to simulated stomach and small intestine digestion in a study, three of the main catechins in green tea (including EGCG) were &#;significantly degraded.&#;18 This means that once these catechins reach your stomach, they may break down faster than your body can use them.
However, certain things, like the addition of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), have been shown to prevent or reduce the degradation of catechins in your digestive system and potentially increase their bioavailability.19 20 This is one of the reasons why Zenwise was chosen as our top green tea extract &#; its inclusion of vitamin C.
Special Offer from Zhou: Save 20% When You Subscribe
Who should avoid green tea extract?
The National Institutes of Health recommends staying away from green tea extract if you take beta-blockers like nadolol. In high doses, green tea can lower the amount of blood in your body, so it interacts poorly with medications used for high blood pressure and heart problems. And if you&#;re pregnant or lactating, green tea may increase the risk of birth defects associated with folic acid deficiency.3
The most serious risk you face when taking green tea extract, though, is liver damage. Supplements high in catechins are more likely to cause liver damage when taken in extremely large doses. Very few green tea extracts have enough catechins to cause harm, but when green tea extract is used in bulk in weight loss supplements, you&#;re more likely to find these dangerous side effects.
There&#;s no clear scientific consensus on how or why this liver damage happens, but EGCG concentrates in the liver four times faster than it does in your blood. Some studies have shown that green tea extract also increases your alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, but it&#;s unknown if that&#;s a cause or an effect of liver damage.45
These liver problems are more likely to occur when you take more than 800mg of EGCG per day.46 If you have a history of liver disease or a family history of acute liver failure, talk to your doctor before starting a green tea extract.
Zenwise Green Tea Extract
Best overall and most potent formula
Contains vitamin C that may lessen degradation of catechins
- Certified vegan
Manufactured following strict cGMP guidelines
Tests all finished products in-house
Strong customer service
100% lifetime money-back guarantee
Subscribe & Save 15%
Free shipping to the contiguous U.S.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Each container of Zenwise&#;s green tea extract holds 120 servings of 725mg green tea extract with 98% polyphenols (710.5mg) and 50% EGCG (362.5mg). While Zenwise is tied with Vitacost&#;s decaffeinated green tea extract in terms of total extract and polyphenols, it does manage to just beat the competition in EGCG by about 40mg.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Each one-pill serving of Zenwise&#;s extract also contains 60mg of vitamin C as ascorbic acid. The company states that this is for extra immune system support, but some studies show that vitamin C can prevent the breakdown of green tea catechins and improve bioavailability.19 20 It may be a happy accident, but it&#;s one of the main reasons Zenwise earned our choice for top pick and most potent formula. There are green tea extracts on the market that contain more extract overall, but catechins can degrade pretty fast in the digestive system.18 With vitamin C to protect against this degradation, Zenwise may allow your body a better chance to absorb more catechins.
Insider Tip: Sign up for Zenwise&#;s newsletter at the bottom of the website to get 25% off of your first order.
The caffeine content in this supplement is 14mg (or less), which is about half of the caffeine in an 8oz cup of brewed green tea.47 This is only 1mg less than the caffeine content in our runner-up choice from Zhou Nutrition. And both are well below the average amount of caffeine in an 8oz cup of coffee &#; 96mg.47
The size of Zenwise&#;s green tea extract capsules is fairly average for a supplement. They&#;re nearly indistinguishable from Zhou Nutrition&#;s and Vitacost&#;s decaf green tea extract capsules. The smallest pills out of our choices come from Vitacost&#;s caffeinated variety. But, despite not being the smallest pill, the capsules from Zenwise are still easy to swallow and completely flavorless.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pricing
Ordering from Zenwise is as easy as ordering from your typical online store. You can choose between a one-time purchase for $21.97 or a subscription plan, which sends you a new bottle at 30, 60, or 90 days for $18.67 each (15% off). This is the highest subscription discount offered by any of our top picks; the next closest is Vitacost&#;s 10% off.
You can order Zenwise&#;s green tea extract directly from its website if you live in the United States. Orders to the continental United States always have free standard shipping and arrive in 2-5 business days. You&#;ll have to pay a variable shipping fee if you&#;re ordering from Alaska or Hawaii.
Uniquely, Zenwise offers a 100% lifetime money-back and risk-free guarantee (all of our other choices have refund policies between 60 and 90 days). At any point, if you decide the supplement doesn&#;t agree with your body or you aren&#;t feeling any positive effects, you can reach out to customer service for alternative options. This might look like a full refund, a partial refund, or a different product shipped to you at no cost, depending on what fits your needs.
When we reached out to customer service for clarity around this policy, the representatives our testers spoke with in Zenwise&#;s in-browser chat replied within a minute and quickly had a clear, detailed answer.
Zhou Nutrition Green Tea Extract
Runner-up overall
Vegan-friendly
Manufactured to GMP standards
- Non-GMO verified
60-day money-back guarantee
Free shipping on orders over $30
Offers a rewards program
5% off if you subscribe through Amazon
Unclear who tests products
Subscription is only through Amazon
The most expensive option per serving of our picks
Photo by Innerbody Research
Zhou Nutrition&#;s green tea extract earned our choice for runner-up thanks to a decent amount of EGCG in a vegan-friendly capsule. Vitacost&#;s caffeinated green tea extract, in comparison, is nearly identical (it actually offers more total polyphenols) but comes in a capsule made with gelatin. Zhou Nutrition&#;s green tea extract also comes with 120 single-capsule servings, like our top pick, Zenwise.
The capsule appearance is almost identical to that of Zenwise, and they&#;re just as easy to take. And, while not horrible, Zhou&#;s capsules do taste a bit like cardboard. This shouldn&#;t be an issue for most, but if you&#;re particularly sensitive to the taste of supplements or medication, this could be something to keep in mind.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Capsule aside, the inside of this supplement is made up of 500mg of green tea extract, consisting of 95% polyphenols (475mg), 80% catechins (400mg), and 50% EGCG (250mg). Similar to Zenwise, Zhou&#;s green tea extract contains 15mg of caffeine. Additionally, the company makes it easy to find the total catechin content (unlike Zenwise) and the total caffeine content (unlike Vitacost). While these are small details, we appreciate Zhou Nutrition&#;s additional transparency.
Photo by Innerbody Research
While Zhou Nutrition claims to &#;lab-verify&#; both its ingredients and the final products, it&#;s unclear whether or not it&#;s done in-house, like Zenwise, or done by a third party. We wish Zhou Nutrition (and other competitors) were as thorough in its safety transparency as PureBulk, which offers multiple easily-accessible safety documents for consumers on request.
Pricing
There are two purchasing options for Zhou&#;s Green Tea Extract. You can either purchase it from Zhou Nutrition&#;s website or on Amazon &#; both options are $22.99. Zhou&#;s website used to offer a subscription plan, but this doesn&#;t seem to be available anymore, at least for its green tea extract. You can, however, subscribe on Amazon to save 5%, bringing the price per bottle down to $21.84.
Whether you purchase directly from Zhou or on Amazon, your order is eligible for the brand&#;s 60-day money-back guarantee. Even if you&#;ve opened and tried a few capsules, if you find it isn&#;t for you, you can just send an to customer service, and you&#;ll get a full refund within a few days.
Vitacost
Best budget pick and best decaffeinated option
Highly cost-effective options
Decaf variety is nearly equivalent to our top choice
Subscription saves you 10% off
60-day refund policy
Standardized option has small capsule size
Photo by Innerbody Research
Two of Vitacost&#;s green tea extract options made it to our top picks &#; the original &#;standardized&#; version with caffeine and the brand&#;s decaf option. The standardized version is comparable in dosage to Zhou Nutrition, while the decaf variety is pretty close to that of Zenwise. Unfortunately, things like vague testing and safety procedures (&#;rigorous testing and safety specifications&#;) and the inclusion of gelatin kept these two otherwise very nice products from being higher up on our list.
Photo by Innerbody Research
The chart below breaks down the differences between the two Vitacost options.
StandardizedDecaf
Serving size1 capsule1 capsule
Green tea extract per serving500mg725mg
Polyphenols per serving98% (490mg)98% (710.5mg)
Catechins per serving80% (400mg)75% (543.75mg)
EGCG per serving50% (250mg)45% (326.25mg)
Caffeine?Yes, but the amount isn&#;t specifiedNo
Interestingly, the standardized version has a smaller capsule than the decaf. While the argument could be made that it contains less green tea extract, it contains the same amount as found in Zhou&#;s, which has the same capsule size as the Vitacost decaf option.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Either way, our testers had no complaints or issues with taking either of Vitacost&#;s offerings, though the standardized one was a little bit easier to swallow.
Pricing
Vitacost products can be found on multiple online storefronts (Amazon, Walmart, and so on) and in many brick-and-mortar stores. For the purpose of this review, we&#;ll just be discussing the pricing on Vitacost&#;s website. When you purchase through the company&#;s online storefront, you have the option to subscribe and save 10% on your order (5% less than Zenwise). The autoship can be adjusted to send you a bottle every 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, or 120 days.
The chart below breaks down the cost difference between single purchase and subscription deals of both the standardized and decaf versions of Vitacost&#;s green tea extract.
StandardizedDecaf
Servings per bottle100 - - 200
Cost per bottle; single purchase$6.99 - $18.99$14.24 - $26.99
Cost per serving; single purchase$0.06 - $0.07$0.13 - $0.14
Cost per bottle; subscription$6.29 - $17.09$12.82 - $24.29
Cost per serving; subscription$0.05 - $0.06$0.12 - $0.13
In terms of refunds, Vitacost (like Zhou) offers a 60-day policy length. If you&#;re unsatisfied with your order in any way, you can reach out to the company&#;s customer service center to request a refund or replacement within the time limit.
PureBulk
Best bulk option
Extensive transparency around testing and safety
Capsule and powder options available
Vegetarian capsule offered
Lists the research behind green tea on the product page
90-day refund policy
Discounts available for first responders, military personnel, and teachers
Some size options can be expensive
Refund requires unopened product
No subscription available
Photo by Innerbody Research
PureBulk offers a nice variety of options for purchasing several hundred servings of green tea extract at reasonable prices. The two main categories available are bags of powder and capsules, but there&#;s also a large bulk purchase option. We&#;ve broken down the capsule and bag choices for you in the list below. Something to note is that PureBulk&#;s capsules are available in both gelatin and veggie options, which we appreciate.
Veg CapsulesGelatin CapsulesBags
Sizes120 or 300 count120 or 300 count100g, 250g, 500g, or 1kg
Servings1 capsule per serving; 120 - 300 servings per bottle1 capsule per serving; 120 - 300 servings per bottle500mg per serving; 200 - 2,000 servings per bag
What PureBulk labels as the &#;bulk&#; option for its green tea extract is a 25kg (55lbs) container of powder &#; this is about 50,000 servings and it&#;ll run you $1,238.05. If you take only one 500mg serving a day, then this bulk purchase would last you about 136 years. This massive amount of green tea extract is likely better suited for families who all take the supplement or even businesses, like a café that adds it to drinks.
No matter what size or form you purchase PureBulk&#;s green tea extract in, the supplement facts and serving size are the exact same.
- 500mg green tea extract
- 98% polyphenols (490mg)
- 80% catechins (400mg)
- 50% EGCG (250mg)
- 2% or less of caffeine (10mg)
These amounts are nearly identical to those found in Zhou Nutrition&#;s and Vitacost&#;s standardized green tea extract. The only difference is that PureBulk&#;s extract seems to have less caffeine than Zhou&#;s (and Vitacost&#;s caffeine content is unknown).
Photo by Innerbody Research
While we don&#;t have experience with PureBulk&#;s capsules, we did try its powdered green tea extract, which dissolved very quickly when put in cold water and whisked. You only need to use a little less than ¼ of a teaspoon to get 500mg, so it&#;s not much powder. However, even on the back of the bag, PureBulk recommends using an &#;accurate gram weight scale&#; to measure it out. This could definitely be a turnoff for some people looking to quickly add green tea extract to their day, but luckily the capsule options exist.
If you do go for the powdered option, be warned that it is extremely bitter &#; emphasis on extremely. Our testers came to the conclusion that any unsweetened beverage is likely not the best option for taking powdered green tea extract. However, this strong bitterness is what indicates that the product is truly full of polyphenols.44 48
Another way to know the content of your PureBulk purchase (besides bitterness) is to request a COA from the company&#;s COA Request page. Here you can request six different documents:
- COA (certificate of analysis)
- MSDS (material safety data sheet)
- Vegan statement
- Allergen statement
- Nutritional statement
- BSE/TSE (a statement on if measures are used to minimize the risk of contamination from bovine spongiform encephalopathy &#; &#;mad cow disease&#; &#; or other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies)
To request this information, you check off the documents you&#;re interested in and fill in your name, address, the product name, lot number, and any additional comments you may have. You&#;ll almost immediately get an confirming that the company received your request (which we appreciated). On the COA Request page, PureBulk notes that, due to a high volume of requests, it may take up to 48 hours for your request to be fulfilled. However, we asked for all six available documents and received them within eight hours. The picture below is just a small snippet of the information PureBulk sent to us.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pricing
While we already mentioned the price of the largest bulk green tea extract option &#; $1,238.05 for 25kg &#; the other offerings cost a lot less. Those prices are broken down in the small chart below.
Veg CapsulesGelatin CapsulesBags
Prices$16.37 (120ct); $35.20 (300ct)$14.07 (120ct); $30.25 (300ct)$11.83 (100g); $25.30 (250g); $45.65 (500g); $82.50 (1kg)
Cost per serving$0.14 - $0.12$0.12 - $0.10$0.05 - $0.04
PureBulk would&#;ve been our runner-up in place of Zhou Nutrition if the company offered a subscription deal and was a little less strict with its refund policy. If you want to return your purchase to PureBulk, only an unopened product sent back within 90 days will get you a full refund. An opened product means you&#;ll only get a refund equal to the cost of the smallest size sold in that product. So, if you purchased the 1kg green tea extract powder for $82.50, opened it, and wanted to return it, you&#;d only get $11.83 back. This policy pales in comparison to our top choice Zenwise, which has no time limit and offers whatever fits your needs (refund, new product, and so on).
And while PureBulk may not have subscription deals, the company does offer 15% off for certain professions &#; first responders, military personnel, and teachers.
FAQ about green tea extract
No. While taking green tea extract is often associated with weight loss, it&#;s not a miracle treatment. Research shows that green tea extract is more likely to help you stop gaining weight by burning fat than it is to burn enough fat that you&#;d lose weight. It&#;s best used alongside regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Not inherently. Green tea extract is more concentrated, so it&#;s roughly the equivalent of drinking multiple cups of tea in one sitting. They often have less caffeine than the equivalent amount of brewed tea, so green tea extract might be a better bet for you if you're sensitive to caffeine. It&#;s more time-consuming (and often more expensive) to drink multiple cups of tea to get the same purported health benefits, so green tea extract is also a more convenient and efficient option.
All kinds of tea are healthy in different ways, but green tea has more polyphenols than black tea. Black tea is made differently because it&#;s given the time to oxidize (hence its black or deep brown color). This oxidation process ferments the tea, which causes it to lose some of those natural catechins and other polyphenols. But while it might have fewer chemical antioxidant compounds, black and oolong tea can still help support healthy weight management, heart health, and a clear mind. It also has more caffeine &#; green tea has an average of 30mg of caffeine per cup, but black tea averages closer to 60mg per cup.
EGCG is a type of catechin, and catechins are a type of polyphenol. In terms of supplements, consider one labeled as containing 500mg of green tea extract, with 98% polyphenols, 80% catechins, and 50% EGCG &#; this means that 98% of the 500mg is polyphenols, 80% of the 500mg is catechins, and 50% of the 500mg is ECGC. It&#;s not separate ingredients, but rather parts that make up the whole serving of green tea extract.
Often, green tea extract is orange. This is because some companies extract the polyphenols from the leaves themselves rather than just grinding up the green tea leaves, leaving behind an orange tint. It&#;s not a sign that your supplements have gone bad or aren&#;t actually green tea, but rather a quirky byproduct of the manufacturing process.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Green Tea Extract Powder.
Comments
Please Join Us to post.
0