[Huggy]

Update on the Green Tea use...

Had to stop drinking the stuff.

Started getting pain through the back through to the left side of my chest.

Have a high tolerance for caffeine to begin with, but even substituting the green tea for the coffee, the lingering discomfort had me testing whether it was the tea and ridding myself of that (three different types of green tea), the pain and discomfort subsided.

Was quite surprised, as green tea is said to contain L Theanine and lesser amounts of caffeine.

I had wondered even before I had started whether there was risk in starting to regularly drink teas of Chinese origin (pollution, contamination?).

Either way, had to stop drinking these altogether.

Back to my coffee (Sumatran) and black tea (India) and more highly caffeinated than ever and non of the distress of the above.

Hiya

There have been a number on here who have reported a negative experience with Green Tea.  Remember someone (name escapes me for the mo) who had a sever reaction and was really ill for quite some time.  If memory serves me correctly the reaction she got was from stressing the liver too much.  That's why care is needed with what we are attempting. Good news is that the liver is one of the most resilient organs and is amazing at healing it'self once given the chance.

Thing to remember is that whenever dealing with a naturally produced product is that it will be by nature a complex substance.  To make it even more confusing, we don't know how any processing may have been done to it, or whatever may have been squirted onto it, etc.....  Which is why extracts tend to be a better bet.  Ok, I realise that's an oversimplification but it does make identifying what works and what doesn't slightly more manageable.  But if something is making you ill probably the best rule is better not drink it   

Anyway, caffeine isn't necessarily bad, in fact it can have some real positives.  Just as with all things, use it sensibly.  (which is probably where I keep getting it wrong! Sensible is soooo hard when something tastes sooo good )

Green tea extracts are far more likely to be problematic (for the liver) than simply drinking green tea. I love supplements, but I'd steer clear of GTE.

Drinking green tea has not been associated with liver injury...Nevertheless...a systematic review by the United States Pharmacopeia illustrate evidence for the potential for green tea extract to cause hepatotoxicity
https://livertox.nih.gov/GreenTea.htm

researchers found that two substances stand out as posing unique threats to the liver: anabolic steroids... and green tea extract - [i]research suggests that up to 10 percent of people who suffer acute liver failure from green tea extract may die as a result[/i]
https://www.consumerreports.org/health/l...-the-rise/

There has been serious consideration of requiring warning labels on Green Tea Extract (USP Green Tea Extract Monograph) regarding the potential for liver toxicity, but that has apparently been deferred for now. Noticed this interim observation till that's resolved:

Clinical pharmacokinetic and animal toxicological information indicated that consumption of green tea concentrated extracts on an empty stomach is more likely to lead to adverse effects than consumption in the fed state.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication...armacopeia
http://www.uspnf.com/notices/retired-com...-monograph

Won't argue with you there.  The liver is not to be taken for granted.  Mess that organ up and you are in serious trouble.  

I do include GTE in my current programme, though once I run out my current stock I am seriously considering dropping it.  I have come to consider it in the same category as licorice nowadays.  It can have it's place in a programme, but understand what you are dealing with and use carefully. These are not to be played with. 

I would also add that as with many of these supplements, the positive effects may only last for limited time and the body seems to adjust itself to balance against it.  It is easy to fall into the trap of keep taking something because you had a positive reaction when you started, only to stay on it beyond it's useful effects and then it's all about the negatives building up in the system.        

I would also add by way of caution that with all extracts the ability to overdose is greater.  So although the quality tends to be more sure, if you are going to have a problem with a particular substance it will be more likely with extracts.  This is where taking an educated approach is so important.  Just popping pills with blithe disregard to the fact that some of this stuff has genuine consequences if misused or if you are not able to tolerate it is naive and potentially risky.