Taiyo expands green tea range
The ingredients were launched at Health Ingredients Europe in Paris this week, and form part of Taiyo’s Sunphenon range based on green tea extracts (Camellia sinensis).
Sunphenon TH-20 contains a minimum 20 per cent of the amino acid, L-theanine, that has been linked with stress relief.
Taiyo noted the ingredient in powder form could easily be added to beverages.
The other offering, Sunphenon LBS, has low astringency levels that mean bitter notes typically associated with green tea, are reduced.
“The huge consumer interest in foods that can play a role in health and wellbeing has brought green tea squarely into the mainstream,” said Josef Skrna, sales and marketing director at Taiyo Europe. “Antioxidant-rich green tea catechins may help reduce the risk of major health problems such as strokes, heart failure, cancer and diabetes.”
Taiyo said the catechins present in green tea and its extracts burn subcutaneous and visceral fat at a rate 1.3 times higher than caffeine, breaking down stored fat into fatty acids that are burned by the body.
“Green tea is also beneficial in helping lower blood glucose levels, regulating the blood sugar ‘swings’ associated with high GI (glycaemic index) foods – and offering natural aid to the 160 million type-2 diabetes sufferers worldwide,” the company said.
“A further 12-week study reports that catechins contained in green tea activate fat metabolism, resulting in ‘significantly lower’ body fat, particularly abdominal fat.”
Japan-based Taiyo said its two additions offered, “manufacturers a powerful new arm in the fast growing weight management sector.”
A recent study published in Nutrition found extracts from green tea may reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and markers of oxidative stress within three weeks.
The study adds to an ever growing body of science reporting the potential health benefits of green tea and its extracts, which already range from reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers.
