AVATRIM CLINICAL STUDIES

The result of the study described in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is the fact that green tea extract promoted a significant increase in energy expenditure, plus also had a strong effect on fat oxidation. While some of the effects were earlier explained by presence of the caffeine content in green tea, the scientists found out that the green tea actually has properties that go beyond those that would be explained by the caffeine.

Today scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits being the result of drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study showing the fact that drinking green tea lowered the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by almost sixty percent. University of Purdue scientists recently made a conclusion that a compound in green tea subdues the growth of cancer cells. There is also results showing that drinking green tea decreases total cholesterol levels, as well as enhancing the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

In a study reported on in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was found that green tea extract resulted in a significant increase in energy expenditure (a measure of metabolism), plus also had a significant effect on fat oxidation. While some of the effects were originally theorized to be due to the caffeine content of green tea, the researchers discovered that the tea actually has properties that go beyond those that would be explained by the caffeine.

The same amount of caffeine as was in the green tea, used alone, was unable to make such energy expenditure in other studies. This led scientists to believe that there is some interaction going on with the active compounds of green tea that increases metabolism rate and fat oxidation.

The researchers pointed out that their findings can be successfully applied for weight control. A 4% overall increase in 24-hour energy expenditure was attributed to the green tea extract, however, the studies showed that the extra expenditure took place during the daytime. This led to conclusion that, since thermogenesis (the body's own rate of burning calories) contributes 8-10% of daily energy expenditure in a typical subject, that this 4% increase in energy expenditure due to the green tea compounds was the result of a 35-43% increase in daytime thermogenesis. That is the reason why scientists admit the usage of green tea for weight loss.

Of maximum importance to thyroid patients is the fact that there were no side effects and significant differences in heart rates reported by research subjects. In this aspect, green tea as a fat burner is way better then some of the prescription drugs for treating obesity and herbals like ephedra, usage of which can result in increase of heart rates and blood pressure and that is not recommended for many individuals, in particular, those with thyroid disease who may be very sensitive to stimulants.

SOURCE: Nagao, T. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2005; vol 81: 122-129.

255538