Green tea extract supplements — the pills in particular — can ensure that you have a healthy and prolonged life. Though they may not exactly work like some wonder drug, you are bound to notice some interesting benefits of these pills when you use them properly.
Green tea pills are made of powder, which is produced by grinding the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Each of these pills contain around 250 to 500 mg of green tea extract. As these pills are in concentrated form, some argue that they are much more beneficial than the green tea itself. These pills are considered ideal for people who don’t have time to think about their health, leave alone preparing tea, and those who are not used to drinking tea.
Why Green Tea Pills?
Green tea is no doubt healthy, but then, it is also notorious for its unpleasant taste. It is this taste of green tea, which prompts many people to add sugar, or cream to it. While such ingredients do sweeten the tea, it defeats the very purpose of drinking a healthy beverage as a whole lot of calories are added to it. Not to forget, our busy schedule seldom gives us time to prepare the recommended 5-7 cups of green tea every day. Green tea pills, on the other hand, give us the various health benefits of green tea, and we don’t even have to worry about its taste, or get into the hassles of preparing it.
What are the Health Benefits of these Pills?
Health benefits of green tea pills exist in plenty, ranging from their ability to lower high blood pressure to facilitate quick weight loss. In fact, the use of green tea pills to facilitate weight loss has become quite popular of late. These pills help in speeding the metabolism process, which helps in burning extra calories, and eventually leads to weight loss. It has also been observed that thermogenesis, i.e., the fat burning process in human body, is faster in people who resort to these pills as compared to those who don’t.
Studies have also revealed that people who use these pills tend to have a prolonged life, free from ailments like cancer, diabetes, stroke, and heart problems. In fact, their ability to prevent certain types of cancer is one of the most popular topic of research in the field of medicine today. The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) compound present in green tea extract also helps in speeding up the recovery process from these diseases. These pills are also considered helpful for dealing with addictions, like drinking and smoking.
An excellent source of antioxidants, green tea pills help in removal of free radicals that trigger chain reactions and damage various cells in the body. They also contain antigens, which help in strengthening our immune system and defend us from bacterial invasion. Green tea extract pills help in clearing the arteries by reducing cholesterol and triglycerides. These pills also help in preserving our bone density and thus, reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Can these Pills Adversely Affect Our Health?
Green tea contains substantial amount of caffeine and therefore, there are chances that the side effects of the same may also be observed in people who consume green tea supplements in excess. These side effects include diarrhea, insomnia, heart palpitations, constipation, etc. That, however, is not a major issue as one can always opt for caffeine-free green tea pills, which are now available in the market.
With the introduction of decaffeinated green tea extract pills, the caffeine threat has been neutralized, but that doesn’t mean these pills don’t have any side effects of their own. Overdose of green tea extract tablets is known to trigger nausea, irritability, restlessness, and upset stomach. The stimulating effects of these pills may even interfere with an existing ailment, or some medication, and therefore, one has to be careful when using them.
At the same time, one should also be careful when buying green tea pills. Consumption of fake pills, which are easily available over-the-counter, can trigger some adverse effects on your health. In pregnant women, overdose of these pills can result in neural tube birth defect in children. In nursing mothers, on the other hand, the same can result in insomnia in children.
Anything done in excess can lead to undesired effects on our body; the same applies to green tea pills. These pills do have numerous benefits, but at the same time, they have a few side effects as well. Taking that into consideration, it is better to consult a doctor, or dietitian, before you start using them. There is no questioning the fact that green tea tablets, capsules, and dry mixes, are popular health supplements in many parts of the world, but it’s equally important to note that you have to be a little cautious when using them.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.