Friday, September 06, 2013 by: John Phillip
(NaturalNews)
For centuries, the Chinese have understood the healing nature of green
tea. Only recently have we come to understand that the lightly fermented
tea leaves used to brew green tea are endowed with a special class of
flavonoid known as Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), that has been shown
to positively alter human metabolism. EGCG is a powerful antioxidant
that can easily cross the blood-brain barrier to impact brain health and
can improve insulin signaling to help blood glucose control.
A research team from Poland has released the results of a study in the journal
Nutrition Research
that finds a dietary supplement of green tea can help to lower multiple
factors associated with the metabolic syndrome in overweight adults.
Overweight and obese individuals have dramatically increased risk of
multiple, confounding health concerns including high blood pressure,
blood sugar spikes, high cholesterol, blood lipids and systemic
inflammation. The scientists determined that very small amounts of a
supplemental green tea extract can lower disease risk on multiple
metabolic systems to improve long-term health outlook of overweight
individuals.
Researchers analyzed 56 individuals considered to be
obese (BMI of 30 or higher) who were also hypertensive and insulin
resistant, all signs of metabolic syndrome, a prevalent condition among
millions of American adults today. Metabolic syndrome biomarkers
dramatically increase the risks associated with developing diabetes,
heart disease, cancer and stroke. The study's participants were
supplemented with a low dose of
green tea extract standardized for 208 mg of the most potent antioxidant catechin, EGCG.
Green tea extracts lower systemic inflammation markers to thwart disease progression
After
a period of three months, the study cohort experienced significant
reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting serum
glucose, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Even more importantly, the
participants demonstrated impressive reductions in the inflammatory
cytokines, TNFa and CRP. Scientists are rapidly proving that systemic
inflammation is a key factor in the development and progression of many chronic illnesses including cancer and cardiovascular disease.
In a separate supporting study published in the
Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry,
researchers discovered that as a person gains weight, muscles become
progressively more fatigued and inefficiently metabolize glucose leading
to insulin resistance. The power-producing organelles (mitochondria) in
these stressed muscles generate excessive amounts of antioxidants
leading to early cell death. Scientists found that supplementing with
EGCG reduced insulin resistance and free radical damage, while turning
down the genes associated with excessive autophagy that lead to muscle
cell death.
The Chinese have successfully demonstrated the healing power of green
tea
for centuries, although current research has only recently discovered
the specific gene-altering characteristics exerted by EGCG catechins to
promote human health. Most research studies recommend drinking between
two and eight cups of fresh brewed
green
tea daily (standardized green tea extracts of 200 to 350 mg. have been
used with similar results) to negate the devastating effects of
metabolic syndrome and prevent chronic conditions.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22749178 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21820301
About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health
Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of
diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance
and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your
Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use
Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight
loss goal. Visit
My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.
