EGCG Metabolism
EGCG Metabolism
Green tea is processed by lightly steaming the leaves, thereby avoiding oxidation that occurs in the processing of black tea. With green tea, oxidation doesn't take place because the steaming process inactivates these enzymes.
Green tea is very high in polyphenols with potent antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. These polyphenols (the most powerful of which is identified as egcg) are changed once subject to oxidization.
The major polyphenols in green tea are flavonoids (e.g., catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and proanthocyanidins). Epigallocatechin gallate is viewed as the most significant active component.
The leaf bud and first leaves are richest in epigallocatechin gallate. The usual concentration of total polyphenols in dried green tea leaves is around 8 to 12 percent.
The proposed mechanism for green tea’s calorie-burning properties lies in the ability of EGCG to increase thermogenesis, or heat production, by influencing enzymes in the metabolic process. EGCG has been shown in clinical studies to boost thermogenesis and to boost metabolism in the body.
A variety of studies on the effect of EGCG on weight and metabolism have been published. Most of them have encouraging results. In one study, energy expenditure was compared in men who were given green tea extract versus caffeine or plain water. The green tea extract caused a 4% boost in metabolism.
So it is widely accepted that egcg boosts metabolism and assists weight loss.
return from "egcg metabolism" to home page, healthy-green-tea.com
|
