Green Tea Leaf Extract

What green tea leaf extract is

Green tea extract is a concentrated form of the same leaf you drink. Its main active compounds are catechins, and the one that gets most of the attention is EGCG. Extracts also carry caffeine unless they are specifically decaffeinated.

Why it is in Glucovive

Green tea is in the formula for two reasons that sit close together: catechins are studied in relation to insulin sensitivity, and they are studied in relation to how quickly carbohydrate is absorbed after a meal. Both connect to the same goal as Chromium — steadier handling of glucose rather than sharp swings.

What the research actually says

Green tea has the deepest research base of anything in this bottle, covering metabolism, blood lipids and glucose markers. Even so, the effects seen in trials tend to be modest, and results vary with dose, extract type and the person taking it. The NIH NCCIH overview linked below is a good, balanced summary.

Modest and real is still worth having. Just do not expect it to do the work of a diet change.

The honest limits

• Effects in studies are usually small, not dramatic.
• Glucovive does not publish its EGCG content or the caffeine amount per dropper.
• Very high dose green tea extract has been linked in rare cases to liver problems — a reason to avoid stacking several green tea products at once.

Safety notes

This ingredient contains caffeine, so skip your afternoon dose or reconsider the product if you are caffeine sensitive. Talk to your doctor first if you take blood thinners, blood pressure medicine, or stimulant medication, or if you have liver problems.

Sources

• Green tea — NIH NCCIH