One of the elements of the PAGG Stack is the green tea extract. Read here about how does it help you lose weight.
Green Tea is known for at least four thousands years to be beneficial for health, it has been effectively used in Chinese medicine. Among other positive effects green tea lowers the risk of cancer, influences the amount of cholesterol and of course helps to loose weight.
EGCG – the green tea’s active agent
The active agent in green tea extract is Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is the ester of epigallocatechin and gallic acid, and is a type of catechin and flavanol. It is a potent antioxidant and thus protects against cancer. EGCG is found in green teas only, because in black tea it is converted into thearubigins (source). Green teas get steamed in the production process, black teas undergo fermentation which destroys the valuable EGCG.
Catechins are abundant in teas made of the tea plant Camellia sinensis but also in cocoas and chocolates made from the seeds of Theobroma cacao. Catechins can be found also in fruits, vegetables and wine. Red wine, an important ingredient of traditional French diet, contributes to a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases among Frenchmen.
Reduction in carcinogenesis is not the only health benefit of catechins / flavanols. They protect skin against UV radiation-induced damage (DNA damage) and tumor formation (link). Consumption of epicatechins can reduce the risk of four of the major health problems: stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes (read about it here and here).
EGCG increases apoptosis, which is a scientific name for cell death, in mature fat cells. What it means is there is less yo-yo effect (weight cycling) after a diet, when fat cells get empty but still alive and capable of storing fat. This is one of the major challenges when losing weight.
Why is green tea extract better?
You might ask, why is green tea extract better than just drinking plain green tea? The reason for avoiding too much green tea is caffeine. Too much caffeine will not only keep you awake for long hors, but it can have negative impact on your heart and your cardiovascular system. That is the reason why the updated PAGG formula doesn’t contain green tea extract in the “before the bedtime” pill.
Has it been confirmed in controlled lab conditions, that you can actually loose weight from taking green tea extract? The answer is yes, although health benefits of green tea are known for centuries, several scientific studies have been performed to examine and measure the effects of green tea consumption. A good example is this study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study concludes the following:
“Acute Green Tea Extract ingestion can increase fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise and can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in healthy young men.” Please focus on the words “moderate-intensity exercise”. What it basically says is you don’t need any exhausting workouts to achieve a fat loss – you just need green tea extract.
How much then should you take? The daily dosage of green tea extract is 325mg. If taken three times a day (no green tea extract before bedtime) would deliver over 900mg per day which is the recommended minimum.