Green tea extract has been touted all over the place in recent years for its claimed health benefits, including weight loss. However, it has now come to light that as the old adage goes, too much of anything can be a bad thing. A young male Australian recently found out the hard way that the weight loss product he purchased in a quest to get healthy with supposedly natural, healthful ingredients contained green tea extract that became toxic for his liver. Green tea contains catechins and too many of these polyphenols can keep the human body from metabolizing food for use for energy. When this happens the results can be jaundice, hepatitis, or even liver failure, as was the case for the Australian man.
Despite the realities of catechin toxicity from green tea, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate products containing green tea and the extract is in over one hundred herbal supplements available to consumers for purchase without a prescription. Without regulation, companies selling such supplements do not have to put anything on the label warning of the risk of liver damage.
This story is not meant to keep everyone from enjoying green tea in moderation. Experts state that drinking green tea is okay but green tea extract from supplements should be taken with caution and real moderation. When making decisions about the products you or your loved ones use, the caring professionals at Inserra & Kelley want you to be as informed as possible in regards to product dangers versus possible benefits. It is always wise to contact your medical provider to discuss whether products and supplements would be beneficial or harmful to your individual health and wellness.