Q: What do you know about EGCG? Do you know if it works in boosting metabolism?

A: EGCG is a naturally occuring antioxidant found in grape seeds, green tea, and pine bark. In addition to its role as an antioxidant it received a lot of press as a calorie burner which I have no reason to doubt. My only two concerns with it as a metabolism booster are the same as with any other supplement:

1. Is it as safe/effective in a processed supplement form as it is in its natural form?

2. Will it burn the 'right' calories?

The first question stems from my very strong conviction that eating 'real' foods is by far the best approach to both health and fitness. If you are concerned with, say, vitamin C intake and can eat a naturally occuring food that contains 1000mg of vitamin C versus taking 1000mg of synthetic vit C in a pill, I'll always always always tell you to eat the food and not the pill. So in case of EGCG my recommendation is to drink green tea to your heart's content, but go easy with pills that claim to contain EGCG.

The second question has to do with the fact that all research about metabolism boosters makes no attempt to distinguish where the extra calories are coming from? And I am fairly certain that the answer is if you already happen to be in severe caloric deficit which is forcing your body to burn both fat and muscle for energy, then taking any metabolism booster on top of it, will just exacerbate the situation by burning even more of your precious muscle instead of fat.

So what does all this mean for EGCG? Simply that my recommendation would be to get it the natural way, through green tea or perhaps grapeseed oil. Don't count on supplements to make a huge difference and certainly don't expect them to make up for a deficient diet and/or exercise program.