Frequently Asked Questions about Green Tea

What is Green Tea?
Green Tea has been used since ancient times in China to address a wide spectrum of health concerns including maintaining healthy weight, supporting healthy aging, and combating the effects of free radical cell damage through its antioxidant properties. Green Tea’s benefits are attributed to the fact that it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly EGCG (epigallocatchin gallate), a powerful antioxidant. There is some evidence to suggest that green tea may help support heart health and healthy aging and that green tea extracts high in polyphenols and caffeine may assist in managing health body weight.

How long do I have to take Green Tea before I see any benefits?
Unlike OTC and prescription drugs that provide instant, temporary symptomatic relief without addressing the underlying problem responsible for poor health, herbal supplements provide progressive, long-term benefits by helping the body correct the underlying problem. While there are certain classes of herbs that work well in acute conditions to provide quick relief; herbs like Green Tea are best when taken over a period of time as part of a health-maintenance program.

Does Green Tea have any side effects or interactions?
Green Tea does not have any known side effects. However, it is always recommended to consult your healthcare provider before taking any nutritional supplements, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or currently taking prescription or OTC medications for any health condition.

Is Green Tea safe for long-term use?
Yes. Green Tea Gold™ by Nutrigold^® features PureValue^®, a high potency, extremely pure, standardized extract of Green Tea, which is extremely safe when used as directed. In fact, Green Tea has been consumed since ancient times to address a wide spectrum of health concerns in China.

Is Green Tea Gold™ a standardized herbal extract?
Yes. Nutrigold^® Green Tea Gold™ is a standardized, pure extract of the leaves of Green Tea. The PureValue^® Green Tea used in Nutrigold^® Green Tea Gold™ is a high-quality extract standardized to 90% Polyphenols, 80% Catechins, and 50% EGCG (250 mg) and whose purity and potency are backed by Ethical Naturals^® ProfileProven^® Quality Assurance System.

What is the difference between a whole herb and standardized extract? Is one necessarily better or more effective than the other?
Unfortunately, this question does not have a simple answer. Both whole plants/herbs and standardized extracts have advantages and disadvantages and choosing one over another is as much a matter of philosophy as it is of simple preference.

• Standardized extracts are based on the assumption that certain components of a plant are more active and helpful than others and it is important that there are no differences in the quantity and quality of this active ingredient from batch to batch. When you buy a standardized herbal product from a GMP-certified manufacturer, you can be assured that you are getting a product that has a certified percentage of the active ingredient in every capsule/tablet and across batches, processed using state-of-the-art machinery, and free of contaminants.
• Whole plant/herbs are based on the premise that all the different components work together synergistically to deliver health benefits rather than individual ingredients extracted in a lab. The trade-off in this case is that there are likely to be considerable differences in the actual quality of the herb from batch to batch. Quality of whole herbs/plants vary depending on where they are grown, soil composition, weather conditions, when they are harvested, type and frequency of chemical pesticides used during cultivation, and the processing techniques employed during manufacturing.

What are some things to watch for when making a decision about nutritional supplements?
Because the FDA does not regulate the dietary supplements industry, there are a number of products in the market that are unsafe, ineffective, and a generally drain on your resources. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping around for nutritional supplements:

• Do your homework – Do not be taken in by free offers and outlandish claims. Make sure you shop around not just for the best “deal”, but also for the best "quality" product.
• “Natural” does not automatically mean “safe” – Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe. Learn to read the label and watch out for potentially unsafe ingredients.
• “Popular” is not the same as “effective” – Just because a product is well-known, has high customer ratings, or listed in a top-seller list does not mean it will always work for everyone. Every person is different and every product works differently for different people, so make sure you buy the product that is right for you.
• You don't always get what you pay for - When it comes to nutritional supplements, most companies price their products not based on what its actual value is, but based on what they think consumers will be willing to pay for it. So, something that is expensive does not automatically mean it is of superior quality nor does something that is priced competitively mean it is of poor quality.

Always, take into account the following factors when determining if you are getting the best quality product at the best value:

• Whole herb vs. Standardized extract - whole herbs are generally lower priced than standardized extracts
• Potency - Higher potency means you get more of what you need in each capsule
• Amount of active ingredient - higher the % of active ingredient, greater the amount of what is presumed to be responsible for the observed benefits
• Total number of capsules per bottle - just because a product has more capsules per bottle does not make it a better value. You need to consider potency, amount of active ingredient, serving size and recommended dosage when determining whether something is a good value for your money or not.

How does Nutrigold^® Green Tea Gold™ compare to other brands of Green Tea?
Green Tea Gold™ is superior to other brands of Green Tea in the following ways:

• Green Tea Gold™ is made from certified allergen-free ingredients
• Green Tea Gold™ is formulated using PureValue™ Green Tea extract
• Green Tea Gold™ purity and potency guaranteed by Ethical Naturals^® ProfileProven^® Quality Assurance System
• Green Tea Gold™ is manufactured in a FDA-registered cGMP-compliant manufacturing facility right here in the US
• The finished product is certified allergen-free by an international, third-party lab
• Green Tea Gold™ is premium quality without the premium price tag

*Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical opinion. It is always recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting any kind of supplementation. The statements and product information have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.