Green Tea Or Green Tea Extract: Which Is Better?

As our dietary format is persistently steering towards healthier options, so many cups of regular teas have been replaced with those of green teas. The hot, herbal drink is known to digest food naturally and aid in weight loss. Along with other innumerable health benefits, green tea has gradually become one of the most preferred everyday detox beverages. Green tea is made from the camellia sinensis plant. The process involves withering, steaming, pan-frying the leaves of the plant and then drying them. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant that wards off all kinds of disease-fighting microorganisms. Not only that, green tea is also known to boost immunity system of the body and building a strong defence against chronic problems like diabetes, heart ailments etc.

Given the many health benefits that green tea provides, it is an ideal organic replacement for tea to get over energy slump and get the much-needed doze of caffeine to go on about the day. But, there are many tea lovers who are used to having their cup of tea with the creaminess of milk and sweetness of sugar. It's difficult for them to develop a taste for this rather bitter-tasting alternative. So, most of these people who also turn health freaks, have to give up entirely on tea. But then, there are some who go for green tea extracts, usually available in a capsule form to replenish their body with the goodness of tea. 

Green tea extract is a supplement derived from the green tea plant. It contains concentrated compounds of antioxidants, polyphenols, vitamins and flavonoids of green tea. If a capsule contains the same amount of active ingredients as a cup of green tea, why shouldn't you just switch to it? Wait... There are some facts you should know about green tea extracts before making a sure shot decision. 

Even though green tea extracts provide the same nutritional benefits as drinking a cup of green tea, you should remember that a supplement will always remain just that - a supplement. As nutritionists promote eating protein-rich foods than relying on protein supplement capsules, same school of thought applies to any source of nutrition in your diet. 

Green tea extracts are supposed to contain the same amount of properties as contained in green tea leaves they are extracted from. But, the process of extraction can leave out some content in the leaves only. What you get is a derivative, sans the complete profile of the green tea leaf. 

And, there's always a risk of adulteration. Different manufacturers create the extracts differently. With the absence of a uniform nomenclature and details of the process not being mentioned in the product labels, consumers can never be sure if they are getting the product in its pure form

Anything ingested in its purest form is more beneficial to the body. A warm cup of freshly brewed green tea is any day better than popping a supplement pill. But, if you have tried and just can't build a taste for green tea, you may give its extract a try. These capsules give you almost the same health benefits as drinking green tea would, only if you exercise caution. You should not take high doses of the capsules; best consult your nutritionists or doctor for recommendations