A green tea supplement is a substance made from Camellia sinensis, a shrub harvested primarily in southeast Asia. The shrub leaves are dried and combined with alcohol to form an extract, which can be sold in small bottles to mix with liquid for drinking quickly or packaged into capsules to take orally. A person may choose to take a supplement rather than drinking pure green tea due to taste preference, time, or convenience.
Herbalists may recommend a person take a green tea supplement for a variety of potential health benefits. Supporters of green tea believe daily use can make a person more alert and able to retain information. It is also thought to help with weight loss by suppressing the appetite and breaking down nutrients faster for energy use rather than fat storage.
Taking a regular green tea supplement is thought to keep a person at his or her healthiest by preventing certain conditions. Green tea is often promoted as a way to maintain heart health by making a person less likely to have blockage in his or her arteries, which can lead to reduced blood flow to the heart and ultimately a heart attack. The supplement is also thought to lower the body’s cholesterol levels by forcing more cholesterol to leave the body instead of collecting in the bloodstream. Advocates of green tea supplements also believe it helps prevent cancer by destroying any cancerous cells before they dqn multiply.
A green tea supplement may be recommended as treatment for a variety of health issues. Some believe the supplement can help lower anxiety, as well as function as an anti-inflammatory medication. Green tea may be used to help treat arthritis or gastrointestinal inflammation caused by digestive problems. It is also thought to be beneficial for people suffering from asthma because it may help the lungs receive more air. Green tea may also be used to treat menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes.
Since a green tea supplement is a more concentrated amount than drinking boiled green tea leaves, it is generally recommended in small dosages. A person will typically be advised to take one capsule per day, which may contain the same amount of green tea as two to three cups of the beverage. The supplement is not considered safe for children under 18 or for women who are pregnant or currently breastfeeding. Green tea can possibly interfere with fetus growth or even result in miscarriage, and the caffeine in the tea can cause infants to have trouble falling asleep.
The supplement may cause an allergic rash in some people, as well as make sleeping difficult due to its stimulating properties. It can also result in constipation or severe stomach pain. People who are taking controlled medications are recommended to consult with their doctors prior to taking green tea supplements because they can interfere with some medications, such as blood thinners, antibiotics, and mood stabilizers.
