A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  
 

Catechins

What Is It?
Catechins are flavonoid phytochemical compounds that appear predominantly in green tea. Smaller amounts of catechins are also in black tea, grapes, wine, and chocolate. Four polyphenol catechins in green tea include gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Due to their potent antioxidant capabilities, catechins, often referred to as "tea flavonoids," are being investigated for their ability to prevent cancer and heart disease. In experimental models, catechins show a wide range of protective effects, including cardioprotective, chemoprotective, and anitmicrobial properties.

While black tea also has flavonoids, it seems to be green tea (unfermented) that has the higher amount of catechins. Green tea has about 27% catechins, with oolong tea (partially fermented) having about 23%, and black tea (fermented) at approximately 4% catechins. Researchers speculate that green tea's higher concentration of catechins is due to the way it is processed. Green tea harbors important compounds that may be reduced in black tea during the drying and fermentation process that produces black tea. Polyphenols constitute about 15% to 30% of unfermented dried green tea and most of the soluble portion of tea.

Health Benefits

Catechins exert significant antioxidant power and may prove to be important heart healthy agents in combating lipid peroxidation within cell membranes lining arterial walls and reducing formation of atherosclerotic plaque. In particular, the tea catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is currently being studied for its role as a chemoprotective agent. Scientists speculate that EGCG may be responsible for suppressing growth of tumors as well as inhibiting enzymes that are involved in spread of cancer cells. In fact, what distinguishes EGCG from other compounds is that it seems to have a unique ability to fight cancer at all stages, from inhibiting development of tumors, to eradicating tumor promoters, blocking chemical carcinogens and neutralizing enzymes involved in cell proliferation. Current research has shown EGCG to be as much as 100 times more potent than vitamin C and 25 time more potent than vitamin E in antioxidant power. Antimicrobial properties in green tea are also attributed to EGCG, which has been shown to repress the growth of bacteria such as helicobacter pylori, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Scientists have not yet determined specific amounts of catechins needed to exert health benefits.

Home - About Us - Contact Us- Privacy
©2008 HealtheSupplements.com

We accept Visa and MasterCard.  We also accept money orders and checks upon request.

 

No claims found on our web pages or in print have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. You should consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplement program. www.healthesupplements.com and its associates are not responsible for product claims made by manufacturers on this website. Our objective is to continuously update our website with accurate product information. However, www.healthesupplements.com is not responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. For absolute accuracy, please consult the products actual label before use. If you discover any inconsistencies on our website, please contact us. Prices and information on these pages are subject to change without notice.

The supplements, product descriptions, and information on this website and received from our customer service is provided as a service to you, our customer.

 

Our web site/customer service cannot, and does not, contain information about all medical conditions. It may not contain all information that is applicable to your personal circumstances. The content is not intended for diagnosis and should not be used as substitute for consultation with your physician. Any and all recommendations or claims implied by the website, manufacturers, or customer service representatives are not guaranteed and we do not take responsibility for the results of your supplementation decisions.

 

As partial consideration for your access to our website, customer service and use of its content, your agree that www.healthesupplements.com is not liable to you in any manner whatsoever for decisions you may make or your actions or nonactions in reliance upon the content. You also agree that the aggregate liability of www.healthesupplements.com arising from or related to your use and access, regardless of the form of action or claim (for example, contract, warranty, tort, negligence, strict liability, professional malpractice, fraud, infringement or other bases for claims), is limited to the purchase price of any items you purchased from www.healthesupplements.com in the applicable transaction.

www.HealtheSupplements.com

CustomerService@HealtheSupplements.com