What if I told you that one compound could enhance fat burning, improve insulin metabolism and boost antioxidant capacity (for better athletic performance). Throw in the benefit of living longer by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease? Would you be interested in knowing more?
These are the latest findings on the green tea extract, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). If you’re interested in building a better, leaner physique, pay attention because I doubt we’ll ever find a more useful compound that provides all of these benefits and more.
Supplementation with EGCG has recently been shown to increase fat oxidation (fat burning) and also to attenuate fat-mass gains. 1 The UK researchers who completed this work also have results from one of the first human studies that have assessed the impact of EGCG on fat oxidation during exercise.
This study investigated 12 healthy males performing 30-minutes of cycling exercise at a submaximal power output. Participants took 388mg EGCG or a placebo. While results showed no change in caloric expenditure, a significant 17% increase in fat oxidation rates was observed when EGCG was taken.
The suggested mechanism for this increase in fat burning is via the inhibition of an enzyme (called catechol O-methyl-transferase) that reduces the degradation of catecholamines. Catecholamines are adrenaline and noradrenaline, they trigger the mobilization and use of fat for fuel during exercise.
What this means to you . .
Increased fat use from taking EGCG before a workout not only means a leaner physique, it also means that valuable muscle glycogen is spared. Muscle glycogen is the body’s preferred fuel) source during exercise. Sparing muscle glycogen would increase the ability to exercise more intensely for longer periods before fatigue kicks in.
EGCG and insulin . . .
EGCG can influence the glucoregulatory response to carbohydrate intake. That means, the amount of insulin released in response to a meal. Researchers from the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center recently investigated the dose-response effect of both green tea and cocoa polyphenols on glucose and insulin response, following an oral glucose-tolerance test.2
Twenty subjects on a controlled diet were given one of five treatments: high-dose cocoa (900mg CP), medium-dose cocoa (400mg CP), low-dose cocoa (200mg CP), control cocoa (22mg CP), or a similar dose of green tea extract. Supplements were taken with breakfast and dinner for five days. A glucose-tolerance test was given on the sixth day.
The results showed that green tea, was the best at lowering the glucose and insulin responses to meals. Best of all, these benefits were observed in normal, but not insulin-resistant, subjects.2
What this means to you . . .
This is an important finding for bodybuilders and other athletes; it means that green tea extract actually improves insulin metabolism in healthy people. In fact, the subjects who were insulin resistant (indicative of type-2 diabetes) showed no beneficial effects from green tea. It could be that the healthier a person is, the better effect green tea has on insulin metabolism.
Oxidative stress . . .
Free radicals are produced during the millions of chemical reactions that go on within the body every minute of every day. When produced in excessive levels, free radicals cause damage to cells and accelerate the aging process. During exercise, excess free radical production promotes fatigue and reduces work capacity.
A study presented at the Experimental Biology conference this year in Washington DC, took a further look at this issue called oxidative stress. This study examined whether an acute dose of EGCG (64.42mg) could influence resting metabolic rate, and, more importantly, reduce oxidative stress as indicated by urinary markers (8-iso-prostaglandin-F2).3
Subjects were given six doses of EGCG over a 48-hour period. Compared to placebo, oxidative stress was significantly reduced based on lower 8-iso PGN-F2 levels.3 Although this was only a small-scale study with 22 subjects, it provides a little more evidence that oral supplementation with EGCG can reduce oxidative stress.
What this means to you . . .
Antioxidants that quench free radical production during exercise often means better performance, less fatigue and quicker recovery. EGCG is the real deal as far as antioxidants go.
Cardio health . . .
Evidence is accumulating that shows a high level of fat in the blood after a meal is a sure sign of increased risk of cardiovascular disease. At present a selection of studies show that green tea (EGCG) has a positive response on blood fats.4
For example, researchers assessed the effect of a EGCG following a standardised high fat meal. The “fat load” was given in a beverage containing 50g fat, 50g carbohydrate, 2g green-tea extract with 50mg vitamin E.5 Following consumption of the load, blood analysis over a six-hour period assessed changes in triglyceride and vitamin E levels. The results showed that EGCG lowered the post-meal response to fat intake. This was determined by lower blood triglyceride (fat) levels.
The bottom line . . .
To obtain the required dose of EGCG shown to provide all of these benefits, you have two choices. You can either drink 6-12 cups of green tea every single day (guh!) Or simply take one serving of Dymetadrine Xtreme which contains a research-proven dose of the highest quality EGCG available. The choice is a no-brainer!
References
1. FASEB online 2007; abstract 280.
2. FASEB J 21:847.17, 2007.
3. FASEB online 2007; abstract LB228.
4. Obesity 2007;15(6):1473-83.
5. FASEB online 2007; abstract 847.9.
