What's better - Green Tea Extract Pills or drinking regular Green Tea?

[Sulutuk]

As the topic says.

What is better, Green Tea Extract Pills or drinking regular Green Tea?

I have been drinking Green Tea because it was so cheap at walmart, 40 tea bags for like $4.

Just wondering if there is added benefit by taking the caspules... Or is drinking green tea better than taking the capsules.

Thanks.

[koard31]

Stick with drinking the tea.

[Sulutuk]

I know this may sound dumb... But... Is "green tea extract" the same stuff inside the tea bag ?

Are they basically putting the components of the tea bag into a capsule?

If so, couldn't you just open up the tea bag and eat some of the contents for same effect?

[GeordieArtois]

I'm reasonably sure that green tea extract contains much more active ingredient than tea itself, up to 7 times as much per serving? please someone correct me if I'm wrong I don't want to misinform.

Primaforce make a quality and relatively inexpensive product.

[Sulutuk]

Has anyone ever opened up their tea-bag and just eaten the tea without brewing it?

[in10city]

As the topic says.

What is better, Green Tea Extract Pills or drinking regular Green Tea?

I have been drinking Green Tea because it was so cheap at walmart, 40 tea bags for like $4.

Just wondering if there is added benefit by taking the caspules... Or is drinking green tea better than taking the capsules.

Thanks.

The bioavailability of a number of the polyphenols is typically better with an extract than brewed green tea. Depending on the product, the extract could also be a more concentrated source of those polyphenols. It just really comes down to needing to drink a couple of cups of tea vs. taking one or two (quality) extract pills.

[shadar]

I'm reasonably sure that green tea extract contains much more active ingredient than tea itself, up to 7 times as much per serving? please someone correct me if I'm wrong I don't want to misinform.

This is correct. An extract is just that, an extract. They are extracting for the active ingredients. Each will be different, which is why you need to see what they are extracting for. EGCG being the important part.

Green tea doesn't exactly yield too much in the way of benefits though as far as I am aware. I've seen Rhizome say that it yields as close to zero benefit as is possible while still being shown to potentially have some benefit. Perhaps in10city will give his opinion as to the efficacy of the polyphenols.

[rhadam]

I was under the impression that pill form works better than drinking the tea. I need to look back in to this, last time i researched was in my last college nutrition class a couple years ago.

Edit: Heh didn't read any posts, guess we've already been talking about how extract is superior

[Sulutuk]

I was under the impression that pill form works better than drinking the tea. I need to look back in to this, last time i researched was in my last college nutrition class a couple years ago.

Awesome let us know what you find.

The pills are starting to sound like the better way to go.

However, the price of 40 green tea bags is only like $4... well i guess the green tea capsules are pretty cheap on bodybuilding.com

What is the best brand of green tea pills?

Thanks guys!

[koard31]

As shadar stated, green tea doesn't really yield that much. The reason I stated to keep drinking the tea is that if you enjoy the tea itself, that benefit is most likely larger than that you receive from the ingredients.

[JP83]

Awesome let us know what you find.

The pills are starting to sound like the better way to go.

However, the price of 40 green tea bags is only like $4... well i guess the green tea capsules are pretty cheap on bodybuilding.com

What is the best brand of green tea pills?

Thanks guys!

Primafroce Lean Grean. Take 2 pills daily. One in the morning and one at night.

[shadar]

Awesome let us know what you find.

The pills are starting to sound like the better way to go.

However, the price of 40 green tea bags is only like $4... well i guess the green tea capsules are pretty cheap on bodybuilding.com

What is the best brand of green tea pills?

Thanks guys!

Are you taking it for fat loss? If so... time to find better solutions

[Sulutuk]

As shadar stated, green tea doesn't really yield that much. The reason I stated to keep drinking the tea is that if you enjoy the tea itself, that benefit is most likely larger than that you receive from the ingredients.

Well green tea isn't that great of a taste. Sure when it's warm it feels good on the throat, especially if I have a sore throat.

Also drinking green tea sometimes makes my mouth feel a little dehydrated, not sure why.

I wouldn't mind switching to capsules.

[Sulutuk]

Are you taking it for fat loss? If so... time to find better solutions

Not really. I am relying on my diet and caloric-deficit for my fat loss.

I started drinking Green Tea as a replacement for Diet Coke.

I use to drink like 8 Diet Cokes a day, now I am down to 3... I was/am severly addicted to Diet Coke.

So drinking the Green Tea has helped me quite a bit to cut back on Diet Cokes.

I was also sick for a few days and the Green Tea really felt good on my throat, and I felt like it probably helped me get over my cold. Not sure if that is just coincidence or not.

[rhadam]

This is correct. An extract is just that, an extract. They are extracting for the active ingredients. Each will be different, which is why you need to see what they are extracting for. EGCG being the important part.

Green tea doesn't exactly yield too much in the way of benefits though as far as I am aware. I've seen Rhizome say that it yields as close to zero benefit as is possible while still being shown to potentially have some benefit. Perhaps in10city will give his opinion as to the efficacy of the polyphenols.

Well from random pubmed musings, i've seen a ton of studies on the benefits. It increases metabolic rate, it's catechin component helps lower bodyfat and cholesterol, and i think i even saw something about inhibiting fatty acids or something, and it's also been found to regulate glucose. And that's not even mentioning it's antioxidant and cognitive benefits.

[Xeric]

There was also a study done showing EGCG's positive effects on cardio...no idea where I read it, maybe someone else knows.

[shadar]

Well from random pubmed musings, i've seen a ton of studies on the benefits. It increases metabolic rate, it's catechin component helps lower bodyfat and cholesterol, and i think i even saw something about inhibiting fatty acids or something, and it's also been found to regulate glucose. And that's not even mentioning it's antioxidant and cognitive benefits.

There are a lot of studies showing little to no benefit as well. I haven't looked at them in ages but recall seeing a huge range of results.

Not really. I am relying on my diet and caloric-deficit for my fat loss.

I started drinking Green Tea as a replacement for Diet Coke.

I use to drink like 8 Diet Cokes a day, now I am down to 3... I was/am severly addicted to Diet Coke.

So drinking the Green Tea has helped me quite a bit to cut back on Diet Cokes.

I was also sick for a few days and the Green Tea really felt good on my throat, and I felt like it probably helped me get over my cold. Not sure if that is just coincidence or not.

Then what would the purpose of green tea caps be for you? It sounds like you have liked the actual act of drinking the tea.

[rhadam]

There are a lot of studies showing little to no benefit as well. I haven't looked at them in ages but recall seeing a huge range of results.




Then what would the purpose of green tea caps be for you? It sounds like you have liked the actual act of drinking the tea.

Ya i think you're correct, one of those things that has plenty of clinicals for either side.

[jphansen]

As the topic says.

What is better, Green Tea Extract Pills or drinking regular Green Tea?

I have been drinking Green Tea because it was so cheap at walmart, 40 tea bags for like $4.

Just wondering if there is added benefit by taking the caspules... Or is drinking green tea better than taking the capsules.

Thanks.

Research still isn't very good behind EGCG (extract) and its fat-burning/metabolism properties, according to NIH. But the actual tea has some metabolism support, if only for the caffeine content. Go with the real stuff.

[jimbb4life]

eh - decent for antioxidants - as far as for fatloss - sketchy at best -id say thumbs down.
All in all a tasty beverage, when used with an artifical sweetener low in cals, and a good source of antioxidants. Good beverage alternative when tired of water. Also provides a mild caffeine boost.
I really see no significant benfit to an extracted pill form.
Drink the tea IMO....

[drewcons]

Tea-GCG

good stuff

[GymRat128]

I love green tea, always got 6-7 boxes of Yogi Green tea's in my kitchen, Rather have the actual tea bags compared to a pill, takes 2 min to prepare..add a teaspoon of honey and your good too go and it taste great, Plus if you got dark circles under your eyes, you freeze the tea bags for 2-3 hours and you put it under your eyes they go away after a couple weeks ( put some wax paper on a plate then put the tea bag on top of it so it wont stick)

[Sulutuk]

Then what would the purpose of green tea caps be for you? It sounds like you have liked the actual act of drinking the tea.

Well I have assumed that my Diet Coke addiction is due to the caffiene in the product (especially because i can taste difference in caffiene-free version).

So when I found green tea, it has a similar amount of caffiene as Diet Coke.

So if the caps deliver the caffiene in pill form, perhaps that will help me stop drinking diet cokes.

If my body is getting the caffiene from a pill i am assuming I won't crave a diet coke?

[Mr.Cooper69]

Actually extract

[koard31]

It sounds like you want to take the capsules and just looking for someone to say take them. So, take them!

Just be sure to replace the hydration you were getting with the green tea with additional water.

[Sulutuk]

It sounds like you want to take the capsules and just looking for someone to say take them. So, take them!

Just be sure to replace the hydration you were getting with the green tea with additional water.

Hah. I'm thinking I should do both. Maybe down some green tea pills if I don't have time for a nice warm mug of the brew.

Best of both worlds eh?

But really I made this thread because i'm sure other people have this same question in their head and it might make for a good debate.

[shadar]

Well I have assumed that my Diet Coke addiction is due to the caffiene in the product (especially because i can taste difference in caffiene-free version).

So when I found green tea, it has a similar amount of caffiene as Diet Coke.

So if the caps deliver the caffiene in pill form, perhaps that will help me stop drinking diet cokes.

If my body is getting the caffiene from a pill i am assuming I won't crave a diet coke?

Why not just buy caffeine tablets then? They are a lot cheaper and you could break them into 1/4's to get 50mg (similar to a coke). But I really don't think it's the caffeine that you're craving. You've just developed a habit and you're trying to break it. Just keep reducing quantities and substituting something else.

Green tea caps are not the solution for you at all.

[Sulutuk]

Why not just buy caffeine tablets then? They are a lot cheaper and you could break them into 1/4's to get 50mg (similar to a coke). But I really don't think it's the caffeine that you're craving. You've just developed a habit and you're trying to break it. Just keep reducing quantities and substituting something else.

Green tea caps are not the solution for you at all.

Very insightful. I have actually never thought of taking straight caffiene pills.

A few weeks ago before I was looking into Jolt caffiene gum... but found out its loaded with sugar.

Would it be better to take straight caffiene pills or green tea pills?

[koard31]

The only thing you have identified as using in green tea is the caffeine so why not just caffeine tablets?

[shadar]

Very insightful. I have actually never thought of taking straight caffiene pills.

A few weeks ago before I was looking into Jolt caffiene gum... but found out its loaded with sugar.

Would it be better to take straight caffiene pills or green tea pills?

I don't think either is going to help with your love of diet coke. You need to replace a liquid with a different liquid.

But caffeine pills would be far more effective and cheaper if the caffeine is truly what you need. Make sure you can split them though, 200mg of caffeine would be far too much for your purpose.

Most green tea pills are caffeine free (10mg or less generally) as well.

An even better potential solution would be BLAST by nimbus nutrition. It's a liquid with some caffeine, b-vits and electrolytes. Prob the ideal solution for you actually.