Best Green Tea Extract Supplements (EGCG Capsules, Pills & Powders)

Liquid extracts are great to add to water, tea, juice, or smoothies; but some contain alcohol, so if you want to stay away from alcohol, double check the ingredients.

The bottles are usually small and don’t last long either.

The Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea comes from the same plant (Camellia Sinensis) as black tea, white tea, and oolong tea but unlike these other teas, the leaves that make up green tea are completely unfermented.

While the other teas in the Camelia Sinensis family also have health benefits,due to the minimal processing that green tea goes through it retains many more antioxidants same way that wheatgrass have and other beneficial nutrients such as L-theanine (amino acid), vitamin C, a few B-vitamins, and some minerals including calcium.

While research is ongoing, studies have shown very promising results for:

Anti-Tumor and Anti-Cancer Benefits

Numerous studies have been done on the effect of green tea on cancer and tumors and while there are studies where results have been inconclusive or shown no effects at all, there are many studies that have shown that green tea may be helpful in killing off cancer and even preventing it. It possibly depends on genetics and the type of cancer.

Weight Loss and Sports Performance

Green tea should not be thought of as a miracle supplement as by itself, neither drinking green tea or a green tea extract alone is going to help you get into shape; the same way even some friendly supplements such as the vegan B12 could not.

Lifestyle factors and genetics play a huge role here and not everyone responds the same way to supplementation or drinking the tea regularly.

But when your body responds favorably, the tea works by slightly raising your metabolism and decreasing fat absorption which can help you slim down a little bit faster and may be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight as long as you don’t overdo it with your the rest of your lifestyle. This is also where proper digestion happens, specially with the help of probiotics.

It was also found that in some cases green tea helped to improve endurance which boosted athletic performance especially when you are benefited with a healthy environment. Once again, the studies showed hit and miss results. It largely depends on genetics and the way that your individual body works, so it helps to know the facts about this drink.

Green Tea for Heart Disease

Heart disease can be caused by obesity, high levels of cholesterol clogging our arteries, and high triglyceride levels (blood fat) in addition to a sedentary lifestyle. In addition to aiding weight loss in some people, green tea has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels too.

Improvement in Cognitive and Psychological Health

Stress levels are at an all-time high in our fast-paced society. Sipping a cup of green tea may just help to lower your stress and anxiety levels. What’s more is that it also helps to clear brain fog to get you thinking more clearly.

Though scientists are not sure exactly what green tea compound is responsible, it’s speculated that the natural combination of caffeine and L-theanine, which is a precursor for the two relaxing and mood-boosting neurotransmitters (hormones) serotonin and dopamine, in green tea may be responsible for this.

Liver Health

We are constantly bombarded by toxins in the form of pollution, chemicals in the products we use around the home and on our skin, unhealthy foods and alcohol, and even the chemicals used in plastics and furniture. Our livers process all of this and green tea can help with the excretion of toxins and preventing liver damage.

Are There Side Effects?

Unfortunately, as great as the best green tea supplements are, they can cause harm when used incorrectly or for long periods of time. Always stick to the dosage recommended on the supplement. It’s also recommended that you don’t take green tea or EGCG supplements for longer than 3 months at a time. Don’t take them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding either.

Nausea, headaches, and in those who are sensitive to caffeine, jitters, anxiety, and poor quality or quantity sleep has been reported. As with most things, moderation is the best way to approach your health. There are a few more side effects to be aware of though:

Liver Problems at High Doses

While green tea can help the liver, large amounts (more than 5-6 cups per day, an amount often matched or surpassed by supplements) can cause liver damage. This is rare, but it’s good to be aware.

In the case where green tea extracts are being used as part of a treatment for an illness, your doctor or the naturopath will advise you on the correct dosage and what the best green tea extract pills, capsules, liquid extracts, or powders are for you as these will have different benefits or may make it easier if you have trouble swallowing or a sensitivity to certain ingredients.

Iron Absorption

Green tea is one of the teas that prevent some of the iron from your food from being absorbed by your body, so taking the supplement form close to mealtimes or with food can become problematic, particularly if you are already anemic.

However, depending on the brand, you likely only need to take one a day, and taking it with food can help prevent nausea. So this won’t be a problem for everyone as long your diet is healthy and full of a variety of foods.

Our Top 3 Picks

The best green tea extract brand depends on what works with your body, but here are the top three choices depending on what you are looking for: